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Project title

Optimizing Estimator's Performance by a Scrutiny of Stress-Coping Behavior (June 2003 - May 2005)
supported by Strategic Research Grant, CityU

Abstract:

Optimizing Estimators’ Performance by a Scrutiny of Stress-Coping Behavior (SRG grant no. 7001466)

Many research studies have focused on the behavior and performance of construction managers and estimators (Dawood 1998) as the management and estimating tasks are largely unstructured and rely on subjective judgment, while the problem-solving ability and performance of the construction managers and estimators could be affected by job stress. But there is a lack of research identifying stress, coping behavior and performance in the construction industry. Stress influences the estimator’s behavior and performance, and the probability of successful tender bidding. A comprehensive study is thus important for improving the estimating performance, based on the human behavioral aspect.

In a pilot study that was funded by the DAG at CityU, the factors leading to stress in the estimation process have been examined, and the correlation between the stress and the performance of estimators (Stress–Performance) has already been established in separate research conducted earlier (i.e., stage A; refer to project no. 7100209). The aim of this research is to investigate the stress management (Stress–Behavior–Performance) amongst estimators in the estimation process. To achieve this aim, the following operational objectives are derived for this research stage (i.e., stage B): (1) identify estimators’ coping behaviors in regard to stress; (2) identify the factors leading to the identified coping behaviors [1] among estimators; (3) examine the influences of the factors identified in [2] on the manageability of stressful behavior (identified in [1]); (4) establish the relationships between stress, coping behaviors and performance; and (5) develop a model to optimize performance via coping behaviors in regard to stress. The findings of this proposed project shall provide valuable input for the establishment of individual/organizational coping behaviors for estimators (i.e., stage C), which will be carried out in subsequent research studies

Team members:

Mei-yung LEUNG, Department of Building and Construction, City University of Hong Kong

Alice CHONG, Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong

Martin SKITMORE, School of Construction Management & Property, Queensland University of Technology, Australia

Thomas Shiu-tong NG, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong

Papers:

Leung M.Y. (2003) Developing a stress management model for construction estimators, Proceeding of CIB TG 23 International Conference of Professionalism in Construction: Culture of High Performance, HK: Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors

Leung M.Y. (2004) An international study on the stress of estimators. The Hong Kong Surveyor, H.K.: HKIS, 15(1), 49-52.

Leung M.Y., Liu A.M.M., Ng S.T. (2005) Is there a relationship between construction conflict and participants satisfaction. Engineering Construction and Architectural Management, 12(2), 149-167.

Leung M.Y., Liu A.M.M., Wong M.K. (2006) Impact of stress–coping behaviors on estimation performance. Construction Management and Economics, 24, 55-67.

Leung M.Y., Wong M.K., Oloke D. (2003) Coping behaviors of construction estimators in stress management, Proceeding of 2003 Conference of the Association of Researchers in Construction Management, UK: ARCOM, 1, 271-277.


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