MORE MANAGEMENT, LESS MONITORING

UK contractors must learn to manage rather than just monitor subcontractors.

That was the central conclusion of a 1986 University of Reading comparative study of the US and UK construction industries. At that time the study found:

n twice the number of management personnel on UK sites;

n more supervision of trade contractors required on British sites;

n UK trade contractors had not adjusted to the new management demands being placed on them;

n UK sites demand a greater staff input to safety and welfare;

n cost and bonus surveyors are not used on US sites;

n US sites deal with fewer drawings, fewer variations, and less managerial involvement by the architect.