Manage Teams in Construction Management
In the construction industry, the selection of a team is an essential aspect since it lays a basis on how the work is going to be done. Construction of railways requires a lot of diligence to have an efficient means of transport. Picking the right team members is key to making the project a success. Selection of teammates is not only picking those that can perform a particular role well but also considering how well different persons can work together. Getting the right blend facilitates the process of construction, and it guarantees efficacy.
In selecting the team, a selection panel is formed. The selection panels play an advisory role in selecting the team members (Toor & Ogunlana, 2009). The board addresses how the railway project is supposed to be done and lays out criteria on the qualifications for one to be part of the project. The panel also helps in ensuring that the process of recruiting members is not manipulated. The committee comprises of the end users of the project and in this case, this is someone to represent the public, an expert in matters relating to rail transport, a representative of third parties who may be interested in the project and other advisors in the field. The panel is also mandated to source for other people’s opinion on the project. Once the board is selected, team objectives are laid out. The committee sets out the role of each team members and determines the expectations of the team. The panel members therefore brainstorm, consult, and finally decide on the scope and the procedure to be followed while recruiting team members.
Several factors are affecting the selection of a team. Qualifications of the team members is a significant factor. The panel looks deeply into the qualifications of the applicants and selects the one with the appropriate skills. The qualifications must match the job description. Another factor that may affect the selection of team members is culture and the behavior of the proposed firms and individuals. The panel has to consider the culture of the potential team members to ensure that the project goes on smoothly. Clashing cultures among team members is a massive menace since teammates may take a lot of time trying to understand each and everyone’s lifestyle, therefore, the intended targets may not be attained on time. Team members ought to be trained anew based on how they are expected to perform to mitigate the effects of the difference in working styles of teammates so that they can work uniformly in delivering the railway project.
Conflicts may arise in the course of duty. Disputes may be substantive or emotional (West, 2012). Substantive conflicts occur as a result of issues like goals and allocation of resources. Team members may disagree on the materials and methodology to be used in the construction of the railway. Team members get the opportunity to brainstorm and find an amicable solution. Substantive conflicts may be beneficial in project management. Emotional conflicts, on the other hand, are based on emotions and issues like jealousy and are destructive. Teammates should have social interactions besides having a work-related relationship. Social interactions will enable teammates to learn more about each other and develop friendships. Friendships will eventually eliminate emotional conflicts. Reduced conflicts ensure smooth flow of activities in the railway projects.
Rail mode of transport provides several benefits to the public. Rail transport is convenient and can transport heavy loads over long distances, it is cheaper, and it is also a safe means of transportation. Effective means of transport also leads to the growth of a country’s economy. Construction of railways should be done appropriately, and the right people be used in its construction to achieve the intended goal.
References
Toor, S., & Ogunlana, S. O., (2009). Construction professionals’ perception of critical success factors for large‐scale construction projects. Construction Innovation, 9(2), 149–167. https://doi.org/10.1108/14714170910950803
West, M. A., (2012). Effective Teamwork: Practical Lessons from Organizational Research. John Wiley & Sons.