Hierarchy Model of Construction Productivity

Abstract

A key factor in our current economic picture is the declining productivity of our work force. An analysis of productivity issues suggested that the problem should be addressed as a continuum from project conception to completion, rather than only at the field construction stage. A model is presented which reviews a hierarchy of productivity on five distinct levels: policy formation, program management, planning/design, project management/administration, and site construction. The hierarchy model was tested by representatives of all facets of the industry — owners, contractors, insurers and bankers, managers and planners. The perceived concensus was that the model expressed the productivity problem and was a good conceptual step toward analyzing it.