Wednesday, April 26, 2017 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Increasing collaboration between members of the construction value chain means that organizations are significantly influenced by the internal cultures of the interacting organizations. Both the construction industry and engineered wood products (EWP) manufacturing industry are generally known for operating in a traditional environment maintaining conservative corporate cultures which can create friction between the industries when they try to interact.

This study assesses the cultural disparities between specifiers and EWP manufacturers obtaining perceptive accounts of each other. A semi-structured interview protocol was used to decipher the cultures of companies and professionals from the two industries. The identified cultural characteristics are supported by responses to an assessment tool administered to executive members of each organization being studied. The responses are qualitatively analyzed and consolidated to identify specific patterns of organizational behavior.

Consolidated organizational behavioral knowledge will benefit EWP manufacturers and specifiers to close up the gap in communication and improve the cultural compatibility between these two members of the construction value chain.

 

Shanuka Fernando is a master’s student in Wood Science and will be completing his degree in summer, 2017. He holds a BSc in Forestry and Environmental Science from University of Sri Jayewardenepura- Sri Lanka. He aspires to enhance Sri Lanka’s renewable materials industry through development of sound business practices.  

 

This event appears on the following calendars:

• Wood Science & Engineering*