Project Webs and New Modes of Organising in the Construction Sector: Insights from an In- Depth Comparative Case Study

There is a contemporary fascination with the way in which modern information and communication technologies (ICTs) may facilitate the emergence of innovative new forms of organising. In this paper we attempt to contribute to this debate by focusing on recent attempts to introduce Project Webs in the construction sector as a means of streamlining and improving the way projects are traditionally organised. We draw on in-depth, empirical evidence from interpretive studies of two high-profile construction projects, one based in Ireland and the other in the UK, to explore attempts to use such technologies to facilitate improved communication and collaboration between geographically-dislocated firms. Interestingly, the outcomes of the two projects contrasted radically with one another, with the technology enjoying significant success in one case while failing to make any significant impression at the other. While we point to a range of technological and management issues that contributed to such polarised outcomes, we argue that one of the most significant problems with the successful use of such technology concerns institutionalised practices and relationships within the sector. In particular, we draw attention to the importance of the broader social, political and economic structures that are manifested in the traditional working practices that prevail within the industry. In conclusion, we argue that, rather than conceptualising the introduction of such changes as primarily a technical problem, attention needs to be paid to the manner in which the outcomes are shaped by the specific socio-political context within which such practices are situated.