The Role of Motivation in Project Management - Dissertation Example

? Project Proposal UCL The Bartlett UNIT: ENVS 3091-Dissertation The Role of Motivation in Project Management Submitted by For Bsc (Hons) in Projet management for Construction 2011/2012 Proposal for a Descriptive Type of Research Working Title; The Role of Motivation in Project Management Rationale The interest on this subject stems from personal observation on current trends in the construction industry. Notably, there has been a remarkable shift of motivation factors as the global society dips more into realms of modernity and modern lifestyles. Engineering and construction is one of the primary factors of human evolution and therefore, the evolution of the society through construction depends on success of project management. Consequently, project management depends on the ability of the project managers to generate, nurture, and maintain high levels of motivation in all levels of project management. Although motivation on the base level where practical work happens is usually taken as the most fruitful target for motivation, other levels of project management including the highest project managerial levels needs to be equally motivated. The proposed study is overwhelmingly important to the author and the primary focus will be on the role of motivation in success of project management in the construction industry. Much of the insight on role of motivation in project management can be found on authentic books and authoritative internet sources. Different theorists and researchers have exhaustively explored theories of motivation in different aspects. Various definitions of motivation theories will be explored in the light of motivation and its influence on success of project management. However, only motivational aspects relating to motivation in construction industry will be discussed. The primary theme behind this research is to use the available literature information to determine with high degree of certainty, the role of motivation on project management in the construction industry. Further, this project proposal will give more details into how the project will be carried out. Aim To investigate the role of motivation of various stakeholders in project management in the construction industry and ascertain the relationship between motivation and success of project management. Objectives 1. To make a profound research on literature discussing the field of motivation and correlate the information that will be obtained to success in project management in the construction industry. Key areas of consideration to achieve the above objective will include a) Theories of motivation b) Motivation factors c) Motivation as it applies to project teams d) Project management and teams 2. To ascertain the role of motivation in project management by looking at practical case studies. Key areas to be considered are a) How the project was carried out b) Motivation issues within the case study c) How the motivation issue was addressed d) Outcome of the motivation in relation to success or failure of the project Hypotheses 1. Motivation has a direct effect on the success of project management initiatives in the construction industry 2. Construction companies that adopt proficient motivation strategies record increased success in their project objectives Purpose of Study Efficient management of construction projects is increasingly becoming more important as competition in the construction industry increases. The modern world is presenting more challenges for construction industry thereby increasing performance pressure on construction project managers. This increases the need for project managers to increase the output of project teams by any possible means. Since motivation is one of the greatest tools of meeting the objectives of project teams, a clear understanding of the relationship between the two concepts becomes overwhelmingly important. It is therefore, the purpose of this study to make profound investigation into the relationship between motivation and success of project teams with the purposes of shedding more insight into this scarcely discussed field. The results of the research would be of utmost help to all stakeholders involved in the construction industry. It will also form a foundation of further research especially for future researchers wishing to go deeper and do a study using primary data. Methodology This study will be carried out within the realms of literature review of secondary data. The literature review will be confined to theories of motivation and motivation factors as they apply to the performance of project teams in the construction industry. Although most of the theories of motivation to be considered for this research apply across all fields of study, much filtering will be done to obtain the information that is much relevant to role of motivation in project teams. A special focus will go towards exploring the role of project managers in success of construction projects considering that project managers are primarily responsible for motivating the project teams. Pilot Research The research will approach the topic by way of scanning the available literature on the subject of motivation in general and then zeroing in on motivation in project teams. After sieving through the materials, the research shall proceed to examine the factors affecting motivation, attempt at critiquing the relevant theories of motivation and leadership, try to look closer at project teams and how they are formed and operate and try to understand what motivates people at this level. Main Literature Analysis Considering that the research will primarily depend on secondary data to achieve the objectives, more focus will go towards literature analysis. Literature analysis will zero in on motivation as it applies in the field of construction projects. Part of the main literature analysis will go towards analyzing literature materials focusing on project managers and their motivational roles. The focus will be to get more light into the relationship between success of project management initiatives and motivational factors at the disposal of the project managers. Data uncovered from secondary research on the causes of failures and successes in featured surveys and case studies would be presented in preparation for identifying the ways or methodologies that motivation can be a solution to the failures and a sustenance tool to the successful projects. Writing the Research Report The writing of the dissertation content will follow the following format, which is an outline of the chapters and sub-chapters Abstract Introduction Objectives Literature Review Motivation Theories Factors Affecting Motivation Understanding Project Management and Teams Motivation and Project Teams The Concept of Teams Research Approach Research Findings Factors of Motivation Case Studies The Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Building Case Study The Airbus: From Failure to Successful Collaboration The Case of Simons Construction (The Leadership Trust, 2010) The Boeing 747/777 (Kerzner, 2006) Discussions Theories of Leadership in Relation to Motivation Motivating People for Project Success How Projects Fare Motivation Strategies for Project Teams Conclusion Recommendations References Proposed Contents Chapter 1-Introduction: This chapter will relevantly explain the purpose of the study of the dissertation and consequently draw its rationale, aims, and objectives. It will also state the hypothesis, research questions, motivation factors, and theories to this study. This chapter will also give the details of the proposed research methodology as well as a list of the proposed chapter contents. Chapter 2-Literature Review: This chapter will explain the fundamental aspects of the literature review to the study. It will equally state and explain the research sample, research methodology, research models, research approach, and the presentation, analysis, and discussion of the fieldwork results. Chapter 3-Case Studies: This chapter will explain the various case studies that relate to the study. It will equally draw the correlation between the case studies and the research study. Chapter 4-Discussion: This chapter will highlight the contributions of the project manager as a source of motivation and leadership in the study. It will also deduce the specific theories of leadership that relate to motivation in light with the study. It will equally, analyze the success of the project and the relevant strategies that relate to the success of the project. Chapter 5-Conclusion: This chapter will considerably readdress the main aims and objectives of the study, answer the fundamental questions that arise from the study and test the hypothesis. It will also draw a dissertation research conclusion. At the end, this chapter will make informed recommendations and equally highlight future areas of research that relate to Engineering and Construction. Chapter 6-Recommendation: This chapter will draw the significant recommendations in relation to the study on Engineering and Constructions. It will seek to make improvements to the study by proposing possible solutions to the weaknesses on the study. It will also focus on future studies that are influential to this study. Initial References 1. Avolio, B. and Gardner, W. (2005). Authentic Leadership Development, The Leadership Quarterly Vol 16 pp315-338 2. Bass, B. and Riggio, R. (2008). Transformational Leadership. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates 3. Chapman, A. (2009). Tuckman’s Team Development Model, BusinessBalls.com. Accessed April 3, 2012: http//:businessballs.com/tucmanformingstormingnormingperforming.htm 4. Cherry, K . (2010). Everything Psychology 2nd Edition. Massachusetts: Adam’s Media 5. Cora Systems (2012). The Project Manager: A Hero in Project Management. Accessed April 10, 2010: http://www.corasystems.com/2012/03/the-project-manager-a-hero-in-project-management/ in linkage with http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/ 6. Cornick, T. and Mather, J. (1999). Construction Project Teams. London: Thomas Telford 7. Emmitt, S. (2007). Architectural Engineering and Design Management: Aspects of Building Design, AEDM, Vol 3 pp 3-4, 2007 8. Franken, R. (2006). Human Motivation (6th ed.). Florence, KY: Wadsworth. 9. Garrard, J. (2011). Literature Review Made Easy. Massachusetts: Jones & Barlett Learning 10. Goleman, D. (1998). Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam Books 11. Hartman, S. (no date). Organizational Behavior. Accessed April 3, 2012: http://iris.nyit.edu/-shartman/mba0299/120_0299.htm 12. Hoffman, J.R., and Rogelberg, S.G. (1998). A Guide to Team Incentive Systems. Team Performance Management, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 23-32. 13. Hofstede, G. (1972). The Color of Collars, Columbia Journal of World Business, September 1972 14. Morgan, A. and Gbedema, S. (2010). How Poor Project Governance Causes Delays, Society of Constitutional Law, London, February 2, 2010. London 15. Morris, P. and Pinto, J (2007). The Wiley Guide to Project Organisation and Project Management Competencies. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons 16. Winch, G. (2010). Managing Construction Projects. United Kingdom: Blackwell Publishing 17. Wong, Z. (2007). Human Factors in Project Management: Concepts, Tools and Techniques. California: Jossey-Bass Read More