Share:


The roles of partnering and boundary activities on project resilience under disruptions

    Wenxin Shen Affiliation
    ; Huey Wen Lim Affiliation
    ; Dongping Fang Affiliation

Abstract

Construction projects inevitably encounter adversities that threaten their functionality and performance. Understanding the enhancement of project resilience, especially in extreme situations like the COVID-19 pandemic, is crucial. This study introduces a theoretical model to explore how partnering and boundary activities among project stakeholders influence project resilience, and in turn, impact project performance. Based on data gathered from a questionnaire survey involving 172 construction projects in China, the results indicate that project resilience directly and positively affects project performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Partnering and boundary activities emerge as primary determinants of project resilience. They not only directly impact project resilience and performance, but their impact on project resilience  also indirectly influences project performance. The findings offer valuable theoretical and practical insights into the improvement of project resilience through effective boundary activities and partnering.

Keyword : resilience, boundary activity, partnering, crisis management

How to Cite
Shen, W., Lim, H. W., & Fang, D. (2024). The roles of partnering and boundary activities on project resilience under disruptions. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 30(5), 391–403. https://doi.org/10.3846/jcem.2024.21354
Published in Issue
May 22, 2024
Abstract Views
889
PDF Downloads
454
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Aldrich, H., & Herker, D. (1976). Boundary spanning roles and organizational structure. Academy of Management Journal, 2(2), 217–230. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1977.4409044

Alsharef, A., Banerjee, S., Uddin, S. M. J., Albert, A., & Jaselskis, E. (2021). Early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the United States construction industry. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), Article 1559. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041559

Ancona, D. G., & Caldwell, D. (1990). Beyond boundary spanning: Managing external dependence in product development teams. Journal of High Technology Management Research, 1(2), 119–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/1047-8310(90)90001-K

Anderson, J. C., & Gerbing, D. W. (1988). Structural equation modeling in practice: A review and recommended two-step approach. Psychological Bulletin, 103(3), Article 411. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.103.3.411

Assaad, R., & El-adaway, I. H. (2021). Guidelines for responding to COVID-19 pandemic: Best practices, impacts, and future research directions. Journal of Management in Engineering, 37(3), Article 06021001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)me.1943-5479.0000906

Bagozzi, R. P., & Yi, Y. (2012). Specification, evaluation, and interpretation of structural equation models. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 40(1), 8–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-011-0278-x

Brown, C., Seville, E., & Vargo, J. (2017). Measuring the organizational resilience of critical infrastructure providers: A New Zealand case study. International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection, 18, 37–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcip.2017.05.002

Cheung, G. W., & Rensvold, R. B. (2009). Structural equation modeling: A evaluating goodness-of-fit indexes for testing measurement invariance. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 9(2), 233–255. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15328007SEM0902_5

Choi, J., Naderpajouh, N., Yu, D. J., & Hastak, M. (2019). Capacity building for an infrastructure system in case of disaster using the system’s associated social and technical components. Journal of Management in Engineering, 35(4), Article 04019013. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000697

Construction Industry Institute. (1991). In search of partnering excellence. Construction industry development agency, Sydney, Australia.

Collien, I. (2021). Concepts of power in boundary spanning research: A review and research agenda. International Journal of Management Reviews, 23(4), 443–465. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12251

Costa, F., Granja, A., Fregola, A., Picchi, F., & Portioli-Staudacher, A. (2019). Understanding relative importance of barriers to improving the customer-supplier relationship within construction supply chains using DEMATEL technique. Journal of Management in Engineering, 35(3), Article 04019002. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000680

Coutu, D. L. (2002). How resilience works. Harvard Business Review, 80(5), 46–56.

Crowley, L., & Karim, M. (1995). Conceptual model of partnering. Journal of Management in Engineering, 11(5), 33–39. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0742-597X(1995)11:5(33)

Du, W. D., & Pan, S. L. (2013). Boundary spanning by design: Toward aligning boundary-spanning capacity and strategy in it outsourcing. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 60(1), 59–76. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2012.2206114

Du, L., Tang, W., Liu, C., Wang, S., Wang, T., Shen, W., Huang, M., & Zhou, Y. (2016). Enhancing engineer-procure-construct project performance by partnering in international markets: Perspective from Chinese construction companies. International Journal of Project Management, 34(1), 30–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2015.09.003

Eichhorn, B. R. (2014). Common method variance techniques. Cleveland State University, Department of Operations and Supply Chain Management. SAS Institute Inc., Cleveland, OH.

Faraj, S., & Xiao, Y. (2006). Coordination in fast-response organizations. Management Science, 52(8), 1155–1169. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.1060.0526

Faraj, S., & Yan, A. (2009). Boundary work in knowledge teams. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(3), 604–617. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014367

Gil, N., & Tether, B. S. (2011). Project risk management and design flexibility: Analysing a case and conditions of complementarity. Research Policy, 40(3), 415–428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2010.10.011

Gunderson, L. H., & Pritchard, L. (2002). Resilience and the behavior of large-scale systems. Island Press.

Hair, J., Black, W., Babin, B., & Anderson, R. (2010). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Harvey, S., Peterson, R. S., & Anand, N. (2014). The process of team boundary spanning in multi-organizational contexts. Small Group Research, 45(5), 506–538. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496414534474

Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(1), 115–135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8

Holling, C. S. (1973). Resilience and stability of ecological systems. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 4(1), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.es.04.110173.000245

Hoyle, R. H., & Kenny, D. A. (1999). Statistical power and tests of mediation. In R. H. Hoyle (Ed.), Statistical strategies for small sample research. Sage.

Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118

Jesiek, B. K., Mazzurco, A., Buswell, N. T., & Thompson, J. D. (2018). Boundary spanning and engineering: A qualitative systematic review. Journal of Engineering Education, 107(3), 380–413. https://doi.org/10.1002/jee.20219

Jöreskog, K. G., & Sörbom, D. (1996). LISREL 8 user’s reference guide. Scientific Software, Chicago, USA.

Kahn, W. A., Barton, M. A., Fisher, C. M., Heaphy, E. D., Reid, E. M., & Rouse, E. D. (2016). The geography of strain: Organizational resilience as a function of intergroup relations the geography of strain. Academy of Management Review, 43(3), 509–529. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2016.0004

Klein, R. J., Nicholls, R. J., & Thomalla, F. (2003). Resilience to natural hazards: How useful is this concept?. Global Environmental Change Part B: Environmental Hazards, 5(1), 35–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazards.2004.02.001

Kline, T. J. B. (2005). Psychological testing: A practical approach to design and evaluation. Sage Publications. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483385693

Kutsch, E., Hall, M., & Turner, N. (2015). Project resilience: The art of noticing, interpreting, preparing, containing and recovering. Ashgate Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315602455

Li, Y., & Ji, W. (2021). Robustness of stakeholder response networks for infrastructure system protection. Journal of Management in Engineering, 37(6), Article 04021063. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)me.1943-5479.0000960

Lim, H. W., Zhang, F., Fang, D., Peña-Mora, F., & Liao, P.-C. (2021). Corporate social responsibility on disaster resilience issues by international contractors. Journal of Management in Engineering, 37(1), Article 04020089. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)me.1943-5479.0000861

Linkov, I., & Trump, B. (2019). The science and practice of resilience. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1145/3242587.3242669

Linnenluecke, M. K. (2015). Resilience in business and management research: A review of influential publications and a research agenda. International Journal of Management Reviews, 19(1), 4–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12076

MacKinnon, D. P., Lockwood, C. M., & Williams, J. (2004). Confidence limits for the indirect effect: Distribution of the product and resampling methods. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 39(1), 99–128. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327906mbr3901_4

Madni, A., & Jackson, S. (2009). Towards a conceptual framework for resilience engineering. IEEE Systems Journal, 3(2), 181–191. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSYST.2009.2017397

Marrone, J. A. (2010). Team boundary spanning: A multilevel review of past research and proposals for the future. Journal of Management, 36(4), 911–940. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206309353945

Marrone, J. A., Tesluk, P. E., & Carson, J. B. (2007). A multilevel investigation of antecedents and consequences of team member boundary-spanning behavior. Academy of Management Journal, 50(6), 1423–1439. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMJ.2007.28225967

Naderpajouh, N., Matinheikki, J., Keeys, L., Aldrich, D., & Linkov, I. (2020). Call for papers: Resilience in project studies: An interdisciplinary discourse. International Journal of Project Management, 38, 307–309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2020.06.003

Nowell, B., Steelman, T., Velez, A. L. K., & Yang, Z. (2018). The structure of effective governance of disaster response networks: Insights from the field. The American Review of Public Administration, 48(7), 699-715. https://doi.org/10.1177/0275074017724225

Osipova, E. (2015). Establishing cooperative relationships and joint risk management in construction projects: Agency theory perspective. Journal of Management in Engineering, 31(6), Article 05014026. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000346

O’Toole, T., & Foley, A. (2003). Boundaries and interfaces in marketing. Irish Marketing Review, 16(1), 3–4.

Pavez, I., Hugo, G., Laulie, L., & Gonz, V. A. (2021). Project team resilience: The effect of group potency and interpersonal trust. International Journal of Project Management, 39, 697–708. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2021.06.004

Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J.-Y., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88, 879–903. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.5.879

Project Management Institute. (Ed.). (2017). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (6th ed.). Newtown Square, PA.

Rahi, K. (2019). Project resilience: A conceptual framework. International Journal of Information Systems and Project Management, 7(1), 69–83. https://doi.org/10.12821/ijispm070104

Raoufi, M., & Fayek, A. R. (2022). New modes of operating for construction organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic: Challenges, actions, and future best practices. Journal of Management in Engineering, 38(2), Article 04021091. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)me.1943-5479.0001009

Sagun, A., Bouchlaghem, D., & Anumba, C. J. (2009). A scenario‐based study on information flow and collaboration patterns in disaster management. Disasters, 33(2), 214–238. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7717.2008.01071.x

Schreiber, J. B., Nora, A., Stage, F. K., Barlow, E. A., & King, J. (2006). Reporting structural equation modeling and confirmatory factor analysis results: A review. The Journal of Educational Research, 99(6), 323–337. https://doi.org/10.3200/JOER.99.6.323-338

Schroeder, K., & Hatton, M. (2012). Rethinking risk in development projects: From management to resilience. Development in Practice, 22, 409–416. https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2012.664623

Shen, W., & Ying, W. (2022). Large-scale construction programme resilience against creeping disruptions: Towards inter-project coordination. International Journal of Project Management, 40(6), 671–684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2022.06.004

Shen, W., Tang, W., Asce, A. M., Wang, S., Ph, D., Duffield, C. F., Kin, F., Hui, P., & You, R. (2017). Enhancing trust-based interface management in international engineering-procurement-construction projects. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 143(9), Article 04017061. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001351

Shen, W., Tang, W., Wang, Y., Duffield, C. F., Hui, F. K. P., & Zhang, L. (2021). Managing interfaces in large-scale projects: The roles of formal governance and partnering. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 147(7), Article 04021064. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0002101

Steelman, T. A., Nowell, B., Bayoumi, D., & McCaffrey, S. (2014). Understanding information exchange during disaster response: Methodological insights from infocentric analysis. Administration & Society, 46(6), 707–743. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095399712469198

Stoverink, A. C., Kirkman, B. L., & Rosen, B. (2020). Bouncing back together: Toward a theoretical model of work team resilience. Academy of Management Review, 45(2), 395–422. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2017.0005

Tang, W., Duffield, C. F., & Young, D. M. (2006). Partnering mechanism in construction: An empirical study on the Chinese construction industry. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 132, 217–229. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2006)132:3(217)

Trump, B. D., & Linkov, I. (2020). Risk and resilience in the time of the COVID-19 crisis. Environment Systems and Decisions, 40(2), 171–173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-020-09781-0

Vogus, T. J., & Sutcliffe, K. M. (2007). Organizational resilience: Towards a theory and research agenda. In 2007 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics (pp. 3418–3422), Montreal, QC, Canada. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICSMC.2007.4414160

Wang, A., & Pitsis, T. S. (2020). Identifying the antecedents of megaproject crises in China. International Journal of Project Management, 38(6), 327–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2019.05.003

Wang, T., Tang, W., Du, L., Duffield, C. F., & Wei, Y. (2016a). Relationships among risk management, partnering, and contractor capability in international EPC project delivery. Journal of Management in Engineering, 32(6), Article 04016017. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000459

Wang, T., Tang, W., Qi, D., Shen, W., & Huang, M. (2016b). Enhancing design management by partnering in delivery of international EPC projects: Evidence from Chinese construction companies. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 142(4), Article 04015099. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001082

Wang, W., Fu, Y., Gao, J., Shang, K., Gao, S., Xing, J., Ni, G., Yuan, Z., Qiao, Y., & Mi, L. (2021). How the COVID-19 Outbreak affected organizational citizenship behavior in emergency construction megaprojects: Case study from two emergency hospital projects in Wuhan, China. Journal of Management in Engineering, 37(3), Article 04021008. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)me.1943-5479.0000922

Wang, L., Yang, X., Zhu, F., & Klakegg, O. J. (2023). How governance of interorganizational projects develops resilience: Mediating role of resource reconfiguration. Journal of Management in Engineering, 39(2), Article 04022076. https://doi.org/10.1061/JMENEA.MEENG-4936

Williams, T. A., Gruber, D. A., Sutcliffe, K. M., & Shepherd, D. A. (2017). Organizational response to adversity: Fusing crisis management and resilience research streams. Academy of Management Annals, 11(2), 733–769. https://doi.org/10.5465/annals.2015.0134

Wood, M. D., Wells, E. M., Rice, G., & Linkov, I. (2019). Quantifying and mapping resilience within large organizations. Omega, 87, 117–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omega.2018.08.012