Improving Moralein Construction

Luke M. SnellDirector,

Concrete Industry Management

Del E Webb School of Construction

Arizona State UniversityTempe, Arizona

Why can construction have morale problems?

1. Work is physical

• Lifting

• Carrying

• Moving heavy material (concrete, steel)

2. Work is detailed

• Forms inspected

• Equipment in exact places

• Concrete placed, cured and finished to exact standards

• Care in not damaging other

work

3. Work is dependent on time constraints

• When concrete is delivered - limited time to unload, get into forms and finished

• Must be done in sequence regardless of weather

4. Work is dependent on weather

• May not work in bad weather

• No work/No pay

• If continue working - fighting weather

5. Work is dependent on safety issues - General

• Workers prone to mental lapses

• Accident rate high

• First 6 months

• After 10 years

6. Work is dependent on safety issues - Specific

• Falls

• Tripping hazards

• Burns

• Heavy equipment in use by others

7. Work is repetitive

• Each day - same activity

• Little mental challenge

8. Work is “driven” by production and schedules

• Take little time for management to explain

• Want muscles/not minds

• Take risks - stay on schedule/below budget

• Bonuses typically tied only to schedule/budget

• Not considered–QA/QC

–Safety

8. Work is “driven” by production and schedules

What can we, as managers, do?

• Attitude

• Communicate

• Play

• Celebrate

Attitude

We choose attitude and direction of the company

•Safety vs. Production•Empowerment vs. Fixed Roles•Friendly vs. Who Cares•Customer’s Concerns vs. Fixed Procedures

Communicate

•Participants or Audience?

What can we do to communicate?

• Stop taking calls when talking to a person

• Incorporate others’ ideas whenever possible - give credit to others

• Delegate work with authority and accountability

• True Team Meetings

• Discuss issues related to project

• Have agenda and focus

• Keep short

What can we do to communicate?

Play

Encourage a relaxed, safe work environment

• Foster team success - improve camaraderie•Potlucks•Donuts•Picnics

Celebrate

• Reward good efforts - share company successes• Dinners• Books• Hats, coats, etc.• Time off• Tickets to sporting events

Case Study I

Survey of superintendents in a construction industry - 80% said:

They would not tell project manager about an improved way of doing job

• No one has listened to their concerns in the past

• Just do what they are told to do

When Asked Why Not:

• They stated that they are the workers NOT the managers!

Case Study II

• Company had tricky formwork problem.

• President of the company (an engineer) called the field and office people together

• The president told the field and office people of the problem

• The president admitted he needed help

• Later, a superintendent, (past

carpenter foreman) showed

the president a model (built at

home, on his own time), that

solved the problem.

Why did it work?

Which company would

you want to work for?