Exploring the Social Power in Project-Based Organizations: A Case Study of a HK Public Project

Abstract

The construction industry is a typical arena for project-based organizations (PBOs), as construction projects are perplexing and temporary organizations supported by cooperation of various interdisciplinary project parties. The conditions for successful project delivery depend upon social phenomena. Information circulation and resource sharing among all the project participants, which is embedded in the forms of formal and informal networks, plays very essential role in the delivery process of construction projects. Therefore a social perspective is proposed to analyse the organizational performance of PBOs. The aim of this paper is to explore the effects of social networks on PBOs, with a case study of a HK public project. Social Networks Analysis (SNA) will be employed to help decipher the social power. A series of formal/informal networks will be mapped and their network properties including density, centrality, and cohesion will be analysed. It will extend our understanding of PBOs in a new perspective. Besides, the paper will be able to support the decision making relating to BIM implementation in the construction industry.