Leadership in the Construction Industry: Developing Authentic Leaders in a Dynamic World

The book presents a new framework for leadership in the construction industry based on authentic leadership. It has three major themes: self-leadership, self-transcendent leadership, and sustainable leadership. Despite the importance of leadership in the industry, it has not been given due importance due to managerial functionalism. The industry faces many challenges, including demanding client requirements, stringent regulations, codes, and systems, intense competition, and threats from disruptive enterprise. Technology-driven and tool-based project and corporate management is insufficient, and must be complemented by strategic, genuine, stakeholder-focused, and ethical leadership.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 346 pages
Publication date: 08 March 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

(3) sustainable leadership: how leaders create a sustainable future for their organizations and society.

Despite its significance, leadership has not been given due importance in the construction industry as focus is placed on managerial functionalism. At the project level, even with the technological advances in the industry in recent years, construction is realized in the form of people undertaking distinct interdependent activities which require effective leadership. The industry faces many challenges including: demanding client requirements and project parameters; more stringent regulations, codes, and systems; intense competition in the industry; and threats from disruptive enterprise. In such a complex environment, technology-driven and tool-based project and corporate management is insufficient. It must be complemented by a strategic, genuine, stakeholder-focused, and ethical leadership.

The grounded theory approach which was applied in the study is explained. Many eminent construction professionals in Singapore were interviewed in the field study. Emerging from the experiences of the leaders documented in this book are three major themes: (1) self-leadership: how leaders engage in various self-related processes such as self-awareness, self-regulation, and role modeling. (2) self-transcendent leadership: how leaders go beyond leading themselves to leading others through servant leader. (3) sustainable leadership: how leaders create a sustainable future for their organizations and society.

In conclusion, this book presents a new framework for leadership in the construction industry which draws from the authentic leadership construct. The framework has three major themes: self-leadership, self-transcendent leadership, and sustainable leadership. Despite its significance, leadership has not been given due importance in the construction industry as focus is placed on managerial functionalism. At the project level, even with the technological advances in the industry in recent years, construction is realized in the form of people undertaking distinct interdependent activities which require effective leadership. In such a complex environment, technology-driven and tool-based project and corporate management is insufficient. It must be complemented by a strategic, genuine, stakeholder-focused, and ethical leadership.

Weight: 654g
Dimension: 174 x 244 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367482152