Title: Virtuality of hybrid design teams within the construction context: a conceptual model

Authors: M. Reza Hosseini; Nicholas Chileshe; Bassam Baroudi; Parisa Izadpanahi; Jian Zuo

Addresses: School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia ' School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471 Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia ' School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471 Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia ' School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia ' Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Innovation Centre (ECIC), School of Architecture and Built Environment, The University of Adelaide, 10 Poultney Street, South Australia 5001, Australia

Abstract: Construction managers are required to harness the benefits of hybrid design teams in which interactions are increasingly both virtual and face-to-face. In this context, virtuality plays a crucial role in hybrid teams. This has made a comprehensive appreciation of the nature of virtuality very relevant within the construction context. That is because, virtuality is a key determinant within the design and best practices for adopting hybrid design teams within construction organisations. Yet, a review of literature reveals a conspicuous absence of studies on virtuality within construction. To address this, as a first enquiry targeting virtuality in the construction context, the study synthesises the existing literature and encapsulates available knowledge in a conceptual model describing virtuality for hybrid design teams within construction. It is put forth that such a conceptual model will further establish the field, and can provide fertile ground for future empirical studies on hybrid design teams in the construction context.

Keywords: hybrid teams; virtuality; virtual teams; construction industry; conceptual models; design teams; construction management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2017.083123

International Journal of Project Organisation and Management, 2017 Vol.9 No.1, pp.1 - 17

Accepted: 16 Dec 2015
Published online: 21 Mar 2017 *

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