Relações entre estratégias de produção e motivação para a autonomação

Abstract

By strictly focusing on variables in the work environment, researches in construction management fail toexplain why workers behave differently when exposed to similar challenges under the same motivationalfactors. This is a problem that calls for a better understanding on personal needs and personality types thatsuit the new production paradigm. The interest in the subject comes from the perception that the effectiveimplementation of autonomy in the construction sector lies beyond the discussion of adequate cultural andleadership characteristics. Therefore, this paper presents an empirical qualitative research aimed atillustrating differences in personal motives and how such differences can be balanced to better suit leanpractices. Thus, the discussion is based on lessons learned in two case studies where autonomous crews wereimplemented to react to production problems in construction projects. The analysis shows theinterrelationship between strategic choices in manufacturing strategy and labour motivation. It alsohighlights two important conditions that need to be met by firms interested in applying the concept ofautonomation in construction sites.