Reflective practice and technical rationality in construction project planning

Abstract

This study reviews relevant literature to identify the drawbacks of traditional planning algorithms related to technical rationality. It also evaluates the suitability of construction project strategies, to bring reflective practice into construction project planning by using an archival analysis approach. The archival analysis used qualitative data provided by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), UK, for 66 construction projects that are recognised as being successfully delivered. The information was sorted and analysed via NVivo and content analysis, respectively. The findings show that the characteristics of reflective practice are predominant in the problems and strategic solutions mentioned in the CIOB qualitative information. This study emphasises that the two paradigms are not isolated, but associated through three distinct relationships. Recommendations are given for practitioners to use reflective practice, along with technical rationality to strategically solve problems encountered in construction project implementation. Finally, future studies are suggested to minimise the limitations of this qualitative study by integrating quantitative methodologies, to empirically determine the right combination of the two paradigms in the context of construction project implementation.

Keywords:

• reflective practice
• technical rationality
• construction project planning

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies, Auckland University of Technology for funding this short-term postdoctoral fellowship study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.