Human management control systems on construction firms amidst COVID-19

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to endure in the construction industry. While many businesses worldwide have adapted to working from home or home-based offices, this is impractical in this sector as building activity is conducted on-site, which creates difficulties for employees in adapting to the post-pandemic setting. OBJECTIVE: This article analyzes how the pandemic has changed and affected construction firms’ human management control systems dimensions. We addressed, amidst the pandemic, how work is being performed and its effects on employees and businesses. METHODS: In this analytical research, we used chain referral sampling to perform an in-depth interview study with top administrators of different construction firms in Colombia, and we used inferential statistics for our data analysis. RESULTS: Results showed potential sources of low efficiency and minimal control of resources, including lack of communication with employees, lack of recognition systems, centralized decision-making, and disconnection between business objectives and financial requirements. CONCLUSIONS: Construction firms must ensure workers understand the project goals adequately and be empowered to make on-site decisions provided a training program is offered. Organizations ought to connect their strategic business goals with financial requirements; these must be regularly updated and modified as the economic and labor force scenario evolves.