Research on cross-cultural leadership and management in construction: A review and directions for future research

Abstract

A great volume of cross-cultural research has been undertaken during the past two decades. Although the interaction among participants and organizations from different cultures is one of the most complex issues evident on large construction projects, there is not much cross-cultural research in the context of the construction industry. An overview of cross-cultural research in the social sciences and management studies is presented and some of the recent conceptual and methodological advances are highlighted. Studies on cross-cultural research in construction are then summarized. A number of conceptual and methodological issues are highlighted that deserve more attention in future research in construction. Among these is the need for a more interdisciplinary and interactionist perspective to unearth the complexity of cross-cultural issues. Research in construction should move beyond the conventional models to try more challenging approaches. This calls for the development of comprehensive research frameworks which can derive benefits from the methodologies being applied, and advances being made in cross-cultural research.