Measurement and Antecedents of Cooperation in Construction
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 138, Issue 7
Abstract
The cooperation construct in construction lacks conceptual-definitional clarity. A multidimensional model of cooperation is proposed in which the construct is conceptualized as comprising four related yet conceptually distinct behaviors: in-role, extrarole, compliance, and deference behavior. The construct validity of this model is assessed using confirmatory factor analysis and a sample of 140 professional managers in Hong Kong. Structural equation modeling is then used to test specific predictions linking the four cooperative behaviors with two extrinsic (incentives and sanctions) and intrinsic (intrinsic job satisfaction and legitimacy) job cognition variables. Findings confirm the convergent, discriminant, and nomological validity of the proposed model. Between them, the two intrinsic job cognition variables predict all four behavior dimensions: intrinsic job satisfaction predicts in-role and extrarole behaviors; and legitimacy predicts compliance and deference behaviors. In contrast, the influence of the extrinsic job cognition variables on cooperative behavior is imprecise and weaker. The research suggests that initiatives aimed at improving the level of cooperation in construction project settings should focus more attention on stimulating the internal motivations (enhancing personal causality) of project actors.
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Acknowledgments
Grant HKU7138/05E from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council is gratefully acknowledged for facilitating the research reported here. Two anonymous reviewers contributed to the clarity and exposition of the arguments in this paper.
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Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 138 • Issue 7 • July 2012
Pages: 797 - 810
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© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Jul 29, 2010
Accepted: Oct 14, 2011
Published online: Oct 18, 2011
Published in print: Jul 1, 2012
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