Abstracts
Résumé
Cet article propose une réflexion sur les enjeux managériaux liés à la gestion quotidienne de la sous-traitance. À partir d’une enquête menée auprès de conducteurs de chantier relevant de grandes entreprises belges de construction, nous montrons comment la gestion quotidienne des sous-traitants conduit à de nombreuses situations d’arbitrage visant à permettre la bonne exécution des projets. Nous détaillons l’évolution des pratiques de gestion quotidiennes, qui visent de plus en plus à attirer et à fidéliser les sous-traitants devenus particulièrement rares et indispensables, dans un contexte de pénurie structurelle de main-d’oeuvre locale spécialisée. Cette analyse nous conduit à une discussion mettant en évidence 1) l’importance du management de proximité dans la gestion et l’entretien des relations de sous-traitance, 2) les interdépendances générées par l’état actuel du marché du travail et 3) les risques de ces évolutions pour les professions de manager de proximité.
Mots-clés :
- Conducteur de chantier,
- Construction,
- Fidélisation,
- Pénurie de main-d’oeuvre,
- Sous-traitance
Abstract
This article reflects on the managerial challenges associated with the day-to-day management of subcontractors. Based on a survey of site managers working for large Belgian construction companies, we show how the day-to-day management of subcontractors leads to numerous arbitration situations aimed at ensuring the successful execution of projects. We detail the evolution of everyday management practices, which are increasingly aimed at attracting and retaining subcontractors who have become particularly scarce and indispensable in the context of structural shortages of skilled local labor. This analysis leads us to a discussion highlighting 1) the importance of local management in the management of subcontractor relationships, 2) the interdependences generated by the current state of the labor market, and 3) the risks of these developments for local management professions.
Appendices
Références
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