Goals for Education and Research in Construction

This paper summarizes results of a policy-level workshop attended by a distinguished group of construction people representing owner, contractors, government, and educators. The April 1975 workshop was funded by the National Science Foundation and was sponsored by the Construction Institute at Stanford University. These industry leaders spent two full days in frank, far-reaching analyses in an attempt to define basic problems that the industry will face in the years ahead. In specific terms, the workshop was designed to identify basic research needs in the management of construction and define and formulate goals for basic research in this area. The participants' efforts were concentrated in four general subject areas, including: (1)Manpower and organizational development; (2)management methodologies; (3)innovations in construction methods; and (4) construction industry dynamics. The paper also explains the role of basic research in construction, and suggests guidelines for its implementation and funding.