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Psychological flow – the missing link in the digital transformation of construction sites?
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Industrilized and sustainable construction.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0305-623X
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Frequently, construction projects suffer from delays, safety incidents and unexpected costs. Digitalization as one known solution has not fulfilled its potential to break the trend despite all calls for digital transformation. This research proposes, that individual aspects should be considered stronger to facilitate long term transformation of construction site processes. The aim of this research is to explore the relevance of the psychological flow concept in digital implementations on construction sites. Qualitative data and a questionnaire are utilized to analyse digital initiatives in three cases at a Swedish construction contractor through the lens of the psychological flow concept. Findings visualize how elements of the psychological flow concept are traced in the cases and how the elements can be considered in future digital initiatives, thus guiding practitioners in their attempts to plan and execute transformations of construction processes. Additionally, quantitative measures exemplify how the psychological flow concept can be applied on construction settings and how to visualize results and effects of transformation processes on individuals. This research concludes to address individual aspects in digital transformation initiatives on construction sites through the psychological flow concept which is dissimilar to flow on the system level as discussed in recent construction management research.

Keywords [en]
Construction management, change management, psychological flow, digitalization
National Category
Construction Management
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-81179OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ltu-81179DiVA, id: diva2:1477379
Funder
Vinnova, 2017-05202Available from: 2020-10-19 Created: 2020-10-19 Last updated: 2020-10-19
In thesis
1. Diversity of Flow in Production Improvements in House Building
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Diversity of Flow in Production Improvements in House Building
2020 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Alternative title[sv]
Flow, flyt eller flöde och dess mångfald i produktionsförbättringar inom husbyggande
Abstract [en]

Flow is a complex construct and has developed differently in different research fields. Some of the interpretations are included within this thesis and  categorized  in  two  main  perspectives:  (1)  the  individual  flow  perspective as defined in positive psychology and (2) the system flow perspective  based  on  notations  from  supply  chain  management,  lean  production,  construction  management,  and  operations  management. Both flow perspectives have at least one commonality which bases this thesis: to improve something towards a desirable condition. In positive psychology,  that  something  is  human  well‐being  and  the  system  perspective  focuses  on  entities  that  need  to  be  combined  to  facilitate production. Both flow perspectives have been developed independently without  clear  consideration  of  each  other,  even  though  several  theoretical sources indicate relevant relations between them. This thesis addresses that theoretical gap and aims to describe how system flows and  individuals’  flow  are  related  in  initiatives  intended  to  improve  production in house building.

The thesis is operationalized by a flow framework based on system flows and  individuals’  flow.  Within  three  different  cases  of  improvement  initiatives, qualitative data is analysed to exemplify how flow relations occur  in  the  researched  settings.  Findings  of  quantitative  patterns  of  traced  flow  relations  exemplify  flow  relations  and  can  inspire practitioners  in  assessing  how  the  different  flows  are  addressed  in  ongoing  improvement  initiatives  and  what  other  potential  flows  that could be addressed in future improvements. This thesis concludes that relations between flow on system level and flow on individual level can occur in improvement initiatives in house building production settings, thus  exemplifying  the  ‘Diversity  of  Flow  in  Production  Improvements  in  House  Building’.  Theoretically,  this  thesis  contributes  to  the understanding  of  the  flow  concept  in  construction  management, visualizes the diverse understanding of flow, and advocates that flow should not be treated as homogenous at any level.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Luleå: Luleå University of Technology, 2020
Series
Doctoral thesis / Luleå University of Technology 1 jan 1997 → …, ISSN 1402-1544
National Category
Construction Management
Research subject
Construction Management and Building Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-81180 (URN)978-91-7790-691-9 (ISBN)978-91-7790-692-6 (ISBN)
Public defence
2020-12-15, E632, LTU, Luleå, 13:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2020-10-19 Created: 2020-10-19 Last updated: 2020-11-25Bibliographically approved

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