S01E02: Socio-Technical in Construction Management Research
ARCOM Podcast - where built environment research comes to lifeShow Notes
In this episode of the ARCOM Construction Management Research Podcast, hosts Dr. Léon olde Scholtenhuis (University of Twente) and Dr. Dimosthenis Kifokeris (Chalmers University of Technology) are joined by Dr. Kwadwo Oti-Sarpong, Lecturer in Project Management at UCL’s Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction.
Chapters 02:51 – What Is Socio-Technical Thinking? 09:09 – Three Mobiliations of ST thinking in CM Research 16:55 – Theoretical Rigour 18:22 – Is There Hope? 19:40 – Authors, Supervisors and Peer Review 22:00 – The “Frankenstein” Effect 23:49 – Drop the Socio-Technical Label? Guest Dr. Kwadwo Oti-Sarpong Lecturer in Project Management The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, UCL Kwadwo’s research interests include the socio-technical dimensions of technological and digital innovation in the built environment. Hosts Dr. Léon olde Scholtenhuis University of Twente Dr. Dimosthenis Kifokeris Chalmers University of Technology
Research discussed Construction management researchers frequently study the interaction between people, organisations and technologies. As a result, the term socio-technical has become increasingly common in the literature. But what does socio-technical thinking actually mean? Together, they explore the socio-technical turn in construction management research and reflect on a review of 141 papers examining how socio-technical thinking is actually mobilised within the field. Different traditions conceptualise the relationship between the social and the technical in different ways: from more structured approaches that distinguish between the two to more fluid perspectives. The discussion identifies three broad ways in which socio-technical thinking appears in construction management research: bolt-on, reductionist or superficial, and in-depth mobilisations. Ultimately, Kwadwo responds to an inward looking question: does the peer-review process itself encourage studies to become a “Frankenstein” combination of concepts, sprinkled over rather than applied rigorously in a study?
The ARCOM Construction Management Research Podcast brings construction management research to life through conversations with researchers from the ARCOM community. Each episode explores theories, research methods and perspectives shaping the field of construction management, connecting academic research with the wider challenges facing the built environment. Whether you are a researcher, student or construction professional, join us as we explore recent and thought-provoking research from the construction management community. Resources Oti-Sarpong, K, Olde Scholtenhuis, LL, and Hartmann A (2026) Mobilisation of Socio-Technical in Construction Management Research: Ubiquitous Yet (Seldom) Critically Deployed? In: Chow, V and Neilson, C. (Eds) Proceedings of the 412t Annual ARCOM Conference, 7-9 September 2026, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK, Association of Researchers in Construction Management
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