Mitigation measures for conflicting situations on Indian construction sites

Abstract

This study focuses on conflict in construction workers and the identification of mitigation measures to effectively control conflicts. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique was used in the study to rank various alternatives by their relative efficacy as viewed by construction industry representatives. Upon initial review of the literature, it became apparent that eight significant conflict areas have been identified: delayed payments, insufficient training, discrimination, inadequate resources, excessive workload, unclear site circumstances, time constraints, and lack of safety measures. There were recommendations in the form of specific and distinct mitigation measures, which have been christened M1 to M11 for the respective areas. These tactics were chosen to ensure that the root causes will be treated sufficiently for several reasons. An offline questionnaire was distributed, and more emphasis was placed on the comparative assessment of the proposed mitigation measures. This had the advantage of providing a holistic view of the efficiency of each method described by construction project managers, site engineers, and safety officials managing sites. From the AHP analysis, training and resource management solutions were rated the highest regarding their effectiveness in conflict management. Considering the above results, the study offers lessons on whom and where to focus preventive measures and interventions to achieve better organisational workplace relations and operational effectiveness in construction settings. This study benefits the construction industry by providing a parameter and source for enhancing the conflict resolution framework and ensuring a safer and more efficient building environment.