Abstract/Summary

Borrowing principles of Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA) we elaborate on the human-robot-interaction (HRI) analysis of both a welding robot and a masonry robot to discuss the ways in which construction work may need to reconfigure. Framing these CWA principles alongside the literature on organisational change management, we offer an approach to understanding the implications of introducing robotics into a construction project. While the implications will vary depending on the specific automation type and the specific tasks within the project organisation, the discussion identifies the areas that escalate to influence project management, and identify potential areas for future definition needed for the unique intersection of project management and automation. The remaining parts of the paper describe the rationale for the departure points of this as an implementation framework and why utilising theory from the information systems and human-robot-interaction domains is important to distinguish the organisational implications of robotics. These organisational implications are distinct from previous technological developments within the construction industry because of their impact on changing roles at the workforce, not simply application of technology to change performance of a task.