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Constructing learning: adversarial and collaborative working in the British construction industry

Bishop, Daniel, Felstead, Alan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8851-4289, Fuller, Alison, Jewson, Nick, Unwin, Lorna and Kakavelakis, Konstantinos 2009. Constructing learning: adversarial and collaborative working in the British construction industry. Journal of Education and Work 22 (4) , pp. 243-260. 10.1080/13639080903290355

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Abstract

This paper examines two competing systems of work organisation in the British construction industry and their consequences for learning. Under the traditional ‘adversarial’ system, conflict, hostility and litigation between contractors are commonplace. Such a climate actively militates against collective learning and knowledge sharing between parties. Conversely, under ‘collaborative working’, contractors share risks, pool knowledge and work together to solve problems at all stages and levels in the productive system – a process conceptualised as ‘knotworking’ by some theorists. The paper argues that such learning theories fail to take adequately into account the heavy hand of history and the importance of understanding the nature of the productive systems in which ‘knotworking’ is expected to take root. Both place limits on making ‘knotworking’ a habitual and commonplace activity in construction.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor
Additional Information: Previously published as Learning as Work Research Paper No 13, Cardiff: Cardiff School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University. 2008. http://learningaswork.cf.ac.uk/outputs/Working_Paper_13.pdf
Publisher: Routledge
ISSN: 1363-9080
Last Modified: 19 Oct 2022 10:39
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/25121

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