Learning and improvement approach in traditional construction management models

Extract

[...] On the other hand, Aristotle's approach is based on induction, namely, observation of cases leads to the discovery of causes. Both conceptions are still used today in science, and scientists have joined either one of these two methods over time. Although engineering is not the same as science, engineering, and management areas have been influenced by three sources scientific engineering, economics, and quantitative methods. All of these methods have been influenced either by Platonism or Aristotelianism, but it seems that, traditionally, the Platonic approach has always been preferred over Aristotelianism in Western society, whether in construction engineering and management, which led to problems as, for example, failure of cooperation between the whole team. [...]

[...] Both articles support the lack of efficiency demonstrated by the Platonic-only approach and defend the synergy of both methods to improve engineering and management in order to allow a long-term successful business. However, literature is not discussing these topics enough and there is a need of teaching these approaches at university. Articles Epistemological Explanation of Lean Construction » de Lauri Koskela, Andrea Ferrantelli, Jarkko Niiranen, Ergo Pikas, Bhargav Dave, paru dans le « Journal of construction engineering and management », vol.45, février 2019, publié par l'American Society of Civil Engineers. [...]

[...] Working in agile environment allows an improvement of the pre-design phase in construction, but is also very appropriate for the design phase and for planning in the "production phase of construction". Moreover, the training of workforce and the learning process is essential for the organisation to be successful; in other words, applying the same ideology brought by the Japanese Toyota system where failure and learning is part of the process is a good way to achieve success. On top of that, agile project management allows a good relationship between suppliers and customers, which helps building a long-term relationship in order to secure the business over time. [...]

[...] In addition, this method is widely taught in engineering schools still today. On the other hand, the Aristotelian method is less popular in Western engineering and management. Yet, this Aristotelian approach, used in lean construction which is derived from the Toyota system, has proved to be effective in resolving problem caused by the "one-sided use of Platonic ideas". Indeed, subsequent stages of work are taken into account, deviations from the optimal plan are integrated, there is much more cooperation and collaboration and multiple ways of reasoning are accepted, even encouraged. [...]

[...] In both articles, the question analysed is related to methods of engineering and management, particularly in lean construction and construction. The idea is to analyse the methods used and where their influences, Platonic and Aristotelian, come from, in order to point out strengths and witnesses of both methods and find what could be used to improve society, business and engineers `work in future. First, lean construction and construction are linked to methods of engineering and management that have been used over time. [...]