Understanding improvisation in construction through antecedents, behaviours and consequences

Improvisation is a deliberate, spontaneous and rational decision-making process that helps address emerging issues or unplanned work. Traditional management avoids relying on improvisation as it indicates deviation from the pre-planned procedures and standards. However, improvisational practices continue to exist within numerous uncertain environments such as construction where improvised actions emerge even though they are not encouraged. The purpose of this study is to develop a better understanding of the improvisational practices occurring in construction and recognize the factors contributing to successful improvisation. This study elucidates antecedents, behaviours and consequences of improvisation in various construction operations. Surveys were conducted among different construction professionals to understand improvisation on real-life construction projects. Statistical analyses show that personal experience and the type of organization a person works for have a significant effect on the outcomes of improvisation. In addition, results highlight the most frequent antecedents that trigger the need for improvisation to complete a certain task. The outcomes of this study can help managers and decision makers in the construction industry identify personal, organizational and other specific characteristics that may improve the practice of improvisation for complementing planning processes rather than undermining them.