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Ahn, S, Lee, S and Steel, R P (2013) Effects of Workers’ Social Learning: Focusing on Absence Behavior. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 1015–25.

  • Type: Journal Article
  • Keywords: Labor; Social factors; Construction management; Personnel management; Simulation; Productivity; Labor control; Absence; Social learning; Self-regulation; Organizational behavior; Agent-based modeling (ABM);
  • ISBN/ISSN: 0733-9364
  • URL: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000680
  • Abstract:
    Workers’ consistent attendance is an indispensable condition for successful construction projects, but many construction projects still suffer from the productivity loss originating from workers’ absenteeism. To deal with this problem, construction managers have mainly used formal controls (e.g., penalties) targeting those individuals who present excessive absenteeism. However, recent research papers on absenteeism have testified to the paramount role of social factors, such as social norm, on workers’ absence behavior. Despite the increasing attention being paid to the social factors of workers’ absence behavior, discussion on how a social norm in favor of worker attendance control can be developed is sparse. If how such social norms emerge and how they play a role in controlling workers’ behavior are clear, construction managers can invest time in promoting favorable absence norms rather than focusing on regulations targeting individuals. Therefore, this paper studies the system-level effect of workers’ social learning using an experimental analysis with simulations in order to extend the knowledge of the social aspect in workers’ absence behavior. To conduct the analysis, an agent-based model was developed to serve as a comprehensive model that incorporates mechanisms of workers’ formal and social learning. The model was constructed by using theoretical and empirical findings on absence behavior drawn from scholarly literature. Then the constructed agent-based model was used to explore possible scenarios in organizations with simulations. With the simulation results, the following are demonstrated: (1) high social adaptation can work as a force to either increase or decrease workers’ absence rates; (2) when strict self-regulation is prevalent among workers, high social adaptation can lead to the development of a positive social norm at the jobsite; and (3) when high social adaptation reinforces formal rules, this occurrence reduces the need for additional formal controls on worker behavior. The results from this paper are expected to help construction organizations in understanding the availability of social norms in favor of management, and ultimately in using the social norm for effective labor control that meets little resistance.

Cheung, S O, Yiu, T W and Lam, M C (2013) Interweaving Trust and Communication with Project Performance. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 941–50.

Choi, Y, Kim, D, Kim, S, Nam, M S and Kim, T (2013) Implementation of Noise-Free and Vibration-Free PHC Screw Piles on the Basis of Full-Scale Tests. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 960–7.

de Lima, R X, Júnior, E F N, Prata, B d A and Weissmann, J (2013) Distribution of Materials in Road Earthmoving and Paving: Mathematical Programming Approach. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 1046–54.

De Marco, A and Mangano, G (2013) Risk and Value in Privately Financed Health Care Projects. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 918–26.

Gharaibeh, H M (2013) Managing the Cost of Power Transmission Projects: Lessons Learned. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 1063–7.

Horta, I M, Camanho, A S and Lima, A F (2013) Design of Performance Assessment System for Selection of Contractors in Construction Industry E-Marketplaces. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 910–7.

Hosseinian, S M and Carmichael, D G (2013) Optimal Incentive Contract with Risk-Neutral Contractor. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 899–909.

Laryea, S (2013) Nature of Tender Review Meetings. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 927–40.

Lee, N and Rojas, E M (2013) Visual Representations for Monitoring Project Performance: Developing Novel Prototypes for Improved Communication. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 994–1005.

Lu, Y, Cui, Q and Le, Y (2013) Turning Green to Gold in the Construction Industry: Fable or Fact?. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 1026–36.

Macarulla, M, Forcada, N, Casals, M, Gangolells, M, Fuertes, A and Roca, X (2013) Standardizing Housing Defects: Classification, Validation, and Benefits. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 968–76.

Marks, E D, Cheng, T and Teizer, J (2013) Laser Scanning for Safe Equipment Design That Increases Operator Visibility by Measuring Blind Spots. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 1006–14.

Minchin, R E, Thurn, S B, Ellis, R D and Lewis, D W (2013) Using Contractor Bid Amounts to Estimate the Impact of Night Construction on Cost for Transportation Construction. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 1055–62.

Mostafavi, A, Abraham, D, Noureldin, S, Pankow, G, Novak, J, Walker, R, Hall, K and George, B (2013) Risk-Based Protocol for Inspection of Transportation Construction Projects Undertaken by State Departments of Transportation. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 977–86.

Nguyen, L D, Phan, D H and Tang, L C M (2013) Simulating Construction Duration for Multistory Buildings with Controlling Activities. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 951–9.

Puri, V and Martinez, J C (2013) Modeling of Simultaneously Continuous and Stochastic Construction Activities for Simulation. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 1037–45.

Ugwu, O O, Arop, J B, Nwoji, C U and Osadebe, N N (2013) Nanotechnology as a Preventive Engineering Solution to Highway Infrastructure Failures. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(08), 987–93.