Castles in the Air? The management of the construction firm | Professor Hedley Smyth
Join us for this inaugural lecture with Prof Hedley Smyth as he explores the history of main contracting firms and the failed business model employed today.
Castles in the Air? The management of the construction firm | Professor Hedley Smyth
22 May 2019, 18:30 – 19:30
Castles in the Air? The management of the construction firm
Who is next? The current business model for main contracting firms is failing, demonstrated through the collapse of Carillion, and Interserve going into administration.
There have been serial reports on the construction industry over the decades with the aim of improving operatives, yet the management of the firm as a major constraint to improvement has been overlooked.
This inaugural lecture will focus on the modern history of main contracting firms in construction and how this has led to the failed business model employed today. It is a call to arms, as Prof Smyth asks, how should management respond? What needs to be done? And who is next?
The lecture will begin at 18:30 and will be followed by a networking reception from 19:30. Please note that places at this event are limited and seating will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
About our speaker
Hedley Smyth is Professor of Project Enterprises at The Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management, UCL. He has worked in both industry and academe. He has been a full-time staff member at UCL since 2001 and has led teaching and research in the School on project-based enterprises – how you manage the firms that manage projects. He has also worked extensively with industry, leading four knowledge transfer partnerships and undertaking consultancy-led research.
His research interests are organisational behaviour, especially regarding relationship management, value, and decision-making. The management of project-based firms, especially main construction contractors, provide his research focus. He is author of Castles in the air?: the evolution of British main contractors [pdf 477 KB] and more recently Occupational health, safety and wellbeing in construction: culture, systems and procedures in a changing environment [pdf 1.08MB], with occupational health, safety and wellbeing being his primary functional areas of research. He has published widely in academic journals, written book chapters, and sole authored books.
Access information
- Please let us know about any specific access requirements when registering
Registration enquiries
bscpm.comms@ucl.ac.uk
Find out more about Prof Hedley Smyth's research
- Read Prof Smyth's report which traces the development of leading contracting firms responsible for delivering major projects since 1945. Download Castles in the air?: the evolution of British main contractors [pdf 477 KB]
- Our management of project enterprises research theme covers how organisations that manage projects manage their business and how those organisations support project delivery. Find out more about the School's research into this area
- Find out about Prof Smyth's research into occupational health, safety and wellbeing and read the School's latest collaborative report: Occupational health, safety and wellbeing in construction: culture, systems and procedures in a changing environment [pdf 1.08MB]
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Further information
Ticketing
Pre-booking essential
Cost
Free
Open to
All
Availability
Yes
Organiser
The Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management