STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADAPTING SMES TO CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY CONDITIONS: TOWARDS A QUALITATIVE GROUNDED CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Diane Thompson, Nicholas Chileshe, Jeremy Coggins, Albert Stevels

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up most of the construction industry in Australia. The recent COVID-19 crisis emphasized the challenges of strategically managing labour; materials; interdependencies; customers; and financial solvency/viability. While existing studies have provided insights into strategic responses taken by construction firms generally; there is a lack of research regarding how and why construction SMEs implement such responses. This paper introduces a novel conceptual framework for analysing strategic management practices and identifying opportunities for adapting to industry conditions. The framework incorporates 10 key strategic response measures identified from extant literature and has been qualitatively tested through 30 semi-structured interviews of employees in the South Australian construction industry. Responses were thematically analysed following general theories of resource allocation and stakeholder management. All 10 measures were verified as pertinent. Four additional strategies were identified as being especially important to SMEs during times of crisis: collaborative culture; promoting corporate values/objectives; succession planning and human resource management. This framework will assist practitioners and policymakers in ensuring a more robust future for construction SMEs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages659-668
Number of pages10
Publication statusPublished - 2023
Externally publishedYes
Event39th Annual ARCOM Conference, ARCOM 2023 - Leeds, United Kingdom
Duration: 4 Sept 20236 Sept 2023

Conference

Conference39th Annual ARCOM Conference, ARCOM 2023
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityLeeds
Period4/09/236/09/23

Keywords

  • conceptual framework
  • resource-based theory
  • SMEs
  • stakeholder theory

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Management of Technology and Innovation
  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Building and Construction

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