School of Construction Economics and Management NATURE OF CLIENT TEAM STRUCTURE AND ROLE OF THE CLIENT TEAM LEADER IN TWO SUCCESSFUL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMMES MASTERS BY RESEARCH DISSERTATION Submitted by Tsholofelo Mosalaesi (Student Number: 572980) Supervisor Prof Samuel Laryea A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Quantity Surveying October 2018 DECLARATION I, Tsholofelo Mosalaesi, declare that this research dissertation is my own work except as indicated in the references and acknowledgements. It is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Quantity Surveying in the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. It has not been submitted before for any degree or examination in this or any other university. …………………………………………………………………………… (Signature of Candidate) ……….. day of …………….., …………… (day) (month) (year) 1 ABSTRACT The role of the client is critical in successful infrastructure project delivery. This requires the appointment of an experienced and capable client team to lead and oversee infrastructure programmes or projects. A number of professionals often work in a client‟s project management team and play various roles. While textbooks may identify some of the professionals and their roles, little empirical research has been conducted on the structure of such client teams and the critical role of the client‟s team leader in leading the infrastructure delivery process and managing the whole professional team to perform their roles successfully and deliver the project to achieve the intended objectives and value for money. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the nature of the team structure in each case and how the client‟s project team leader performed his role to ensure successful delivery of the infrastructure programmes. Data collection was undertaken through semi-structured interviews with eight (8) members of the team, documentary analyses and listening to one detailed presentation by three key members of the client‟s team including the client team leader and the client himself. Based on the results of the work, successful delivery of infrastructure project requires a client team that is structured in a hierarchical manner in terms of reporting lines, but has flexible interaction between members of the team. Although there was a clear hierarchy, various team members referred to structure of the team as „‟Flat structure‟‟ this implies that although there was a hierarchy in terms of leadership and membership of the team, they operated much as equals within the team. In relation to the role of the client‟s team leader, it was found that project decisions and actions are driven by the values and interests of the client. The client‟s team leader viewed his primary role to be „unblocking obstacles to progress‟ and „demand management‟ of inputs from everyone in the supply chain. The qualitative data showed one possible relationship between the team structure, role of the client tem leader, and project outcomes – the role and performance of the leader is a critical determinant of successful project outcomes. In conclusion, the main contribution of this study lies in the use of a comprehensive methodology to develop a systematic understanding of the contemporary structure of a client‟s infrastructure project delivery team; and the critical elements of the role of the delivery manager entrusted with the responsibility to lead the client‟s team and deliver the intended objectives of the infrastructure programme or project. 2 DEDICATION I dedicate this dissertation to first and foremost to God the most high who made it all possible and to my one and only mother. 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge and give many thanks to the following people who were seminal in completing my research dissertation: To Professor Samuel Laryea, my supervisor who has always believed in me and endlessly providing guidance and steering me in the direction throughout the time it took me to finish my dissertation. To my mother who never gave up on me and always encouraged me to work hard. To my partner, who has been my biggest fan and also encouraged me to pursue my dreams and finish my dissertation. To all the respondents who took time in their busy schedule to have a meeting with me. To the School of Construction Admin Staff, friends, colleagues, lecturers and librarians who assisted, advised and supported my research and writing efforts. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION .................................................................................................................................... 1 ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................................ 2 DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................................ 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................................... 4 LIST OF TABLES, FIGURES AND APPENDIX ................................................................................. 8 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 9 1.1. Background to the study....................................................................................................... 9 1.2. Problem Statement .............................................................................................................. 13 1.3. Research Question .............................................................................................................. 13 1.4. Research Aim ...................................................................................................................... 13 1.5. Specific Objectives .............................................................................................................. 13 1.6. Brief overview of the research methodology .................................................................... 14 1.7. Scope of the study ................................................................................................................ 15 1.8. Structure of the dissertation............................................................................................... 15 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................................................. 17 2.1. Teams .................................................................................................................................... 18 2.2. Team selection and assembly ................................................................................................ 18 2.3. Types of teams and their organisational structures ............................................................... 21 2.4. Team composition ................................................................................................................. 25 2.5. Teamwork and team performance ......................................................................................... 27 2.6. Team chemistry and team effectiveness ............................................................................... 28 2.7. Team leadership .................................................................................................................... 29 2.7.1. Leadership Theories ...................................................................................................... 31 2.8. Role of the client ................................................................................................................... 33 2.9. Client team ............................................................................................................................ 34 2.10. Portfolio, Programme and Project management ............................................................... 36 2.11. Project Outcomes and Project Success ............................................................................. 38 2.12. Construction project management teams .......................................................................... 39 2.13. Studies conducted on Roles in the Construction industry ................................................. 41 2.14. Studies conducted on teams in construction projects ........................................................ 42 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS ..................................................................... 44 3.1. Research question ................................................................................................................. 44 3.2. Operationalisation and measurement of variables ................................................................ 44 5 3.3. Research design .................................................................................................................... 47 3.4. Research philosophies ........................................................................................................... 47 3.5. Research approaches ............................................................................................................. 48 3.6. Research strategies ................................................................................................................ 48