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A Systems Thinking Approach to Construction Project Management

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The Construction Industry in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (CIDB 2019)

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Abstract

Construction projects plays an important role in nation’s development. The complexity and dynamic environment of the construction industry characterized it frequent cost, time overruns, low quality, etc. for construction project management. This study therefore uses a systems thinking approach to identify the key variables that are affecting this trend. Casual loop and Systems Archetypes were used to develop systems models to determine the components and interactions between the policy and the social, environmental and economic dimensions of the industry. As demonstrated in the aforementioned CLD and archetypes, construction projects will remain to be the engine that develops and empowers the emerging and existing commercial business, housing sectors and nation building across Africa. This systems thinking approach will also provide more clarity in dealing with the complex management challenges and gradually replace the traditional theoretical approach of dealing with construction project management.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express a great gratitude to all the respondents and construction stakeholders of Ghana and Tarkoradi Technical University students of the faculty of Built for their time, willingness and contributions to this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering Management, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Joe Frederick Cobbinah, Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa & Wellington Didibhuku Thwala

  2. Department of Technology Transfer Centre (TTC), Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI), Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), Legon-Accra, Ghana

    Kwamina Ewur Banson

Authors
  1. Joe Frederick Cobbinah
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  2. Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa
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  3. Wellington Didibhuku Thwala
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  4. Kwamina Ewur Banson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joe Frederick Cobbinah .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Construction management and Quantity Surveying, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

    Clinton Aigbavboa

  2. Construction management and Quantity Surveying, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

    Wellington Thwala

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Cobbinah, J.F., Aigbavboa, C.O., Thwala, W.D., Banson, K.E. (2020). A Systems Thinking Approach to Construction Project Management. In: Aigbavboa, C., Thwala, W. (eds) The Construction Industry in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. CIDB 2019. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26528-1_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26528-1_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-26527-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-26528-1

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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