External Consultant Involvement for Organizational Capability Building in Complex Construction Projects: A Perspective from Interorganizational Learning Process
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 148, Issue 1
Abstract
External management consultants have been increasingly employed by owners of complex construction projects (CCPs) to foster management innovation and improve their organizational capability. However, the dynamics of the owner-consultant collaboration process in such projects are still unknown. To bridge this gap, this paper explores the roles of external consultant involvement in fostering management innovation and developing an organizational capability in CCPs. Based on survey data collected from 102 such projects across different types in China, the partial least square-structural equation modeling analysis results uncover the positive effect of external consultant involvement in creating management innovation and building organizational capability. In particular, the mediating role of management innovation is identified in the exploration and transformation learning processes with external consultants involved. The findings of this study provide a novel explanation for the creation of management innovation in CCPs through external consultant involvement and useful guidance to project owners to better identify and utilize external consultants in the future.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all of the data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 71971157, 71501142, and 71871164). Special gratitude goes to the Hongkong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Authority for its support of partial data collection.
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Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 148 • Issue 1 • January 2022
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 7, 2021
Accepted: Sep 16, 2021
Published online: Oct 27, 2021
Published in print: Jan 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Mar 27, 2022
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Cited by
- Mingqiang Liu, Yongsong Zhu, Jianjun Wei, Yun Le, Xinyue Zhang, Impact of Institutional Pressures on External Program Manager Involvement: Evidence from Large Projects in China, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0002306, 148, 9, (2022).