Journal contributions to the discipline of construction management

The development of knowledge and learning in the field of Construction Management (CM) has national significance for construction industries around the globe. Wing (1997) provides a broad definition of CM as ‘project management, construction economics, design economics, cost engineering, value engineering, construction law and procurement, industrial management and public policy related to the construction industry’. An efficient and effective construction industry requires a knowledge bank as a catalyst for continuous improvement. The dissemination of contemporary empirical based research offers fuel to stoke the boiler and the publication of scientific ‘and’ management journals partially fulfils this role. Journals also provide a historical time line of ‘fashions and fads’ within our construction industry and more recently an indication of priority areas where funding councils have sponsored what is deemed to be ‘appropriate research’. Fitzgerald and Gunter (2008) point out that academic journals are the most visible manifestation of the intellectual boundaries that are established, perpetuated and maintained by its field members.