SRT159-Construction Projects 1

Assignment 1 Task For this individual assignment, each student must undertake research and produce an essay that discusses one or more theori es on each of the following interpersonal skills -(1) problem -solving and decision -making,(2) motivation and (3) leadership. You will also discuss how the theories you have selected could be applied in the construction industry. Your essay should no t be just limited to ‘what’ those theories are, but it should present a critical analysis into ‘how’ those theories can be used in your role as a construction project manager and ‘why’ do you think those theories would be the most appropriate in th e construction workplace context. For example, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a theory of human motivation proposed by Abraham Maslow in 1943. Suppose you are discussing this theory in your essay. In that case, you should first briefly discuss the theory’s key ideas and then focus more on its application and suitability in construction projects or the construction industry. Essay Structure •Cover Page (Unit details, Student details, Word count excluding references and appendices –3000 words +/ -10%all owed) •Introduction •Body of the Essay •Conclusion •References(DU -Harvard) •Appendices (if any) Formatting Font Typeand Size: Times New Roman/ 12Line Spacing: 1.5 Alignment: Justify Bold headings, Italic sub -headings Few Points to Consider(Suggestions)Problem -solving and decision -making O Need for problem -solving skills in construction projects • Barriers to effective decision -making in constructio n projects O Biases in decision -making in construction projects O Problem -solving/decision -making approaches O Problem -solving/decision -making tool(s) O Suitability/application of your selected decision -making approaches/ tools (1-2) O General examples Motivation O Need f or motivation in construction projects O Factors affecting motivation in construction projects (workers and professionals) O Importance of a motivated workforce O Motivation theories (Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs; Herzberg’s Motivators & Hygiene Factors; Three Needs -Mc Lellan d; Locke’s Goal Setting Theory; Vroom’s Expectancy Theory; Reinforcement Theory -Skinner; Theory X and Theory Y –McGregor; ERG Theory –Alderfer; etc.) O Suitability/application of your selected theories (1 -2) in the construction environment O General examples Leadership O Need for leadership in construction projects O Role of a leader O Leadership challenges O Leadership theories and styles (Lewin’s Leadership Styles -autocratic, democratic, lass ez-faire; Flamholtz and Randle’s Leadership Style M atrix; Six Emotional Leadership Styles; Blake - Mouton Managerial Grid -concern for people/task; Tannenbaum and Schmidt Leader style continuum; Hersey –Blanchard Situational leadership -telling, selling, participating, delegat ing; Path -Goal Theory; Transformational leadership -emotional intelligenc e etc . O Suitability/application of your selected theories (1 -2) in the construction environmentoGeneral examples