The micro-practices of project organizing in the Chinese construction sector: a sensemaking perspective

Figures & data

Figure 1. The average number of employees in contracting firms in different forms of ownership (Source: National Bureau of Statistics of China 2016).

A line graph from 1980 to 2015 showing the rapid reduction in the average number of employees in state-owned contracting firms. Also shows the relative stability in the average number of employees for collective-owned contracting firms, and for those in other forms of ownership.

Table 1. Summary details of interviewees.

No	Current role	Career experience
East City Construction Steel Company (ECCSC)
1	General manager	Previously deputy general manager in charge of marketing before progressing to general manager in charge of marketing. Reluctant to share details of early career.
2	Deputy general manager in charge of project management and contract management	Began career on-site, then worked as a project manager before progressing to deputy general manager in charge of large steel factory projects. Currently, the deputy general manager of ECCSC with responsibility for project management, bidding and tendering, and accounting.
3	Deputy general manager in charge of human resource management	Began career onsite in 1985. Initially served on the technical staff, but also gained experience as party secretary and project manager. Subsequent roles included the deputy director of the Engineering Bureau, director of the Human Resources Bureau, and vice director of the General Office. More recently served as director of General Office, and Secretary of the board of directors before finally progressing to deputy general manager with responsibility for human resources.
4	Secretary of the Board of Directors	Began career in the General Office, before serving as director of the enterprise management division and deputy director of the General Office. Currently serves as secretary of the Board Committee.
5	Director of the Marketing Bureau	Originally allocated to the firm in 1991 as a member of the technical staff. Subsequently served as a project manager before progressing to deputy general manager and general manager of a subsidiary. Became director of the Marketing Bureau in 2016.
6	Director of the Engineering Bureau	Began career on site before being promoted to project manager. Subsequently progressed to chief engineer of a subsidiary company before being appointed as director of the Engineering Bureau.
7	Deputy Director of the Personnel Management Bureau	Stared in the Personnel Management Bureau and progressed to deputy director in 2010.
8	Deputy Director of the Human Resource Management Bureau	Joined the Human Resource Management Bureau as a graduate in 2011. Promoted to deputy director in 2016.
9	Director of the enterprise management division	Began career in the General Office, progressing to director of the Enterprise Management Division.
10	Director of the Bid and Tender Centre	Several years of experience as deputy general manager in charge of construction, before becoming the director of the Bid and Tender Centre.
11	Director of the Technology and Innovation Centre	Began career in the Technology and Innovation Centre. Subsequently promoted deputy director before taking over as director.
12	Deputy Director of the Planning Finance Bureau	Previous a member of the project management team before joining the Finance Bureau. Currently deputy director of the Finance Bureau.
13	Party secretary of the First Civil Engineering Subsidiary	Began career in the General Office in the early 1990s. Appointed as party secretary of the First Civil Engineering subsidiary in 2010.
14	Party secretary of an overseas subsidiary.	Career started on site in the Tianjin subsidiary. Subsequently worked in the Party and People Bureau before being promoted to party secretary of an oversea subsidiary.
15	Party secretary of the First Business Department	Began career as a marketing assistant and progressed to deputy director of the Marketing Department. Recently appointed as Party Secretary of the First Business Department.
16	Party secretary of the Sixth Civil Engineering Subsidiary	Career started on site. Promoted to project manager and subsequently to general manager of secondary units. After several years’ experience appointed as director of the Marketing Bureau. Currently the party secretary of the Sixth Civil Engineering Subsidiary.
17	General engineer of the Second Civil Engineering Subsidiary	Career commenced on site. Subsequently served in the Design Bureau before moving to the Project Management Bureau. Currently general engineer of the Second Civil Engineering subsidiary.
18	Deputy general manager in charge of human resources for the Transportation subsidiary.	Initially employed as a graduate in the General Office where he progressed to the director. Currently deputy general manager with responsibility for human resources within the Transportation subsidiary.
19	Marketing manager for the Steel Structure subsidiary.	Started as a graduate with the Marketing Bureau, progressing in time to become to general manager. Currently marketing manager for Steel Structure subsidiary.
20	Project manager for the Steel Structure subsidiary	Began career on site. Promoted to project manager in 2015.
21	Director of the general office of the Steel Structure Subsidiary	Initially appointed as a project accountant before switching to the general office of a subsidiary company where she is currently a director.
South City Construction Housing Company (SCCHC)
22	Deputy general manager	Began his career as a technician and progressed to the role of project manager. Subsequently worked for the local government before being appointed as special secretary to the general manager of the parent company. Further promoted to deputy general manager in 2017.
23	General manager	Started in the Project Management Department and progressed over time to become a manager. Appointed as general manager of SCCHC in 2017.
24	Deputy general manager in charge of administrative management	Initially appointed to the Department of Enterprise in 2007. Subsequently promoted to manager of the Department of Enterprise and then deputy general manager and deputy party secretary of South Construction.
25	Former general manager	Began career in the Project Management Department. Promoted to project manager and then deputy general manager of the Third Subsidiary. Appointed as general manager of SCCHC in 2009. Retired in 2016.
26	Chief engineer	Initially appointed as a technician in the Third Subsidiary, subsequently promoted to manager of the Project Management Department. He joined SSHC in 2012.
27	Deputy general manager in charge of project acquisition	Began his career as the general manager’s secretary in the Third Subsidiary. Joined SCCHC in 2011 and subsequently appointed deputy general manager in charge of project acquisition.
28	Deputy general manager in charge of finance	Previously a finance manager for a subsidiary company. Appointed to the current role with SCCHC in 2017.
29	Accounting manager	Began career as an accountant and progressed to accounting management.
30	Project manager	Several years of experience as project manager.
31	Manager of the Project Management Department	Began career as a technician in the Project Management Department and progressed through the ranks to manager.
32	Manager of the Department of Enterprise	Joined the Department of Enterprise as a junior member of staff and progressed to the role of manager.
33	Manager of the Department of Marketing	Began career in the Project Management Department before switching to my current role.
34	Manager of the Department of Contract Management	Initially worked in contract management by a real estate developer backed by a Hong Kong investor. It was based on this previous experience that he was invited to take on his current role.
North City Construction Engineering Company (NCCEC)
35	Deputy general manager in charge of marketing	Joined in 2006 as a marketing manager, subsequently promoted to deputy general manager in charge of marketing.
36	Deputy general manager in charge of finance and investment	Joined the Financing Department of the parent company in 2012. Appointed deputy general manager in 2016 with responsibility for financing and investment, including PPP project acquisition.
37	Deputy general manager in charge of Project management	Began career in project management with the parent company. Joined NCCEC in 2005 as a project manager and was promoted to my current role in 2007.
38	Deputy general manager in charge of technology and innovation	Previously worked as a site engineer for one of the largest Chinese railway construction groups. Joined NCCEC in 2014.
39	Deputy general manager in charge of contract management	Significant previous site experience with different subsidiaries. Appointed to current role in 2016.
40	Manager of the Department of Human Resource Management	Initially joined the General Office as an assistant manager. Progressed to current role in 2013.
41	Manager of the Department of Enterprise Strategy	Began career in the Department of Human Resource Management of a subsidiary company. Joined NCCEC in 2017.
42	Manager of the Department of Safety Monitoring	Worked initially in the headquarters of the Sichuan subsidiary as head of project management. Joined NCCEC as a project manager in 2013. Promoted to current role in 2017.

National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2016. Chinese statistical yearbook. Beijing: NBSC.

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