Large construction sites: the lessons learnt from managing extreme situations

• François JOLIVET
  Specialist in the supervision of large construction sites
  

Summary

In the 1970s, the large construction sites run by Spie-Batignolles all over the world constituted a management challenge. In environments which were often unknown and sometimes uncertain, and against a background of fierce international competition, it was necessary to react very quickly to increasing demands. It therefore became necessary to rationalise management but without becoming bureaucratic. Faced with this dilemma, Spie-Batignolles developed a special kind of organisation, which was called "self-organisation", according to certain rules. François Jolivet explains how this worked and shows how it was a forerunner for project management methods which are used today in design management.

Summary translated from French by Rachel MARLIN.

• The entire article was written by Thomas PARIS.

To obtain this article, you can :

• download it for free in French (PDF help) or contact ecopar@paris.ensmp.fr (Reference VA120399).

The entire article appears in French in the Journal de l'École de Paris du management N° 19.