TECHNICAL PAPERS
Mar 1, 1986

Motivational Implications of Construction Work

Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 112, Issue 1

Abstract

A survey was conducted of unionized construction workers in a major midwestern city to collect data on their perceptions of the jobs and environment within which they perform their jobs. Construction workers have growth needs that are similar in strength to other blue collar workers. The individuals with stronger needs should respond to jobs that are high in motivating potential. Contractors need to improve worker satisfation with job context. The qualifications of the workers appears to be more than adequate for the great majority of construction tasks. Contractors need to structure jobs to improve their motivating potential. As currently structured, construction jobs are low in motivating potential.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

References

1.
Absenteeism and Turnover, New York, The Business Roundtable, 1982.
2.
Borcherding, J. D., and Oglesby, C. H., “Construction Productivity and Job Satisfaction,” Journal of the Construction Division, ASCE, Vol. 100, No. CO3, Sept., 1974, pp. 413–431.
3.
Hackman, J. R., and Oldham, G. R., Work Redesign, Addison‐Wesley Publishing Company, Reading, MA, 1980.
4.
Maloney, W. F., and McFillen, J. M., Unionized Construction Workers and Their Work Environment, Technical Report No. 1, Ann Arbor, MI, Center for Construction Engineering and Management, Univ. of Michigan, 1984.
5.
Maloney, W. F., and McFillen, J. M., “Valence of and Satisfaction With Job Outcomes,” Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, ASCE, Vol. 111, No. 1, March, 1985, pp. 53–73.
6.
Measuring Productivity in Construction, New York, The Business Roundtable, 1982.
7.
Michigan Organizational Assessment Package, Ann Arbor, MI, Institute for Social Research, Univ. of Michigan, 1975.
8.
Sims, H. P., Jr., Szilagyi, A. D., and Keller, R. T., “The Measurement of Job Characteristics,” Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 19, No. 2, June, 1976, pp. 195–212.
9.
Turner, A. N., and Lawrence, P. R., Industrial Jobs and The Worker, Boston, MA, Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, 1965.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 112Issue 1March 1986
Pages: 137 - 151

History

Published online: Mar 1, 1986
Published in print: Mar 1986

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

William F. Maloney, M. ASCE
Asst. Prof. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
James M. McFillen
Assoc. Prof. of Management, Bowling Green State Univ., Bowling Green, OH, 43403

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

Cited by

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share