Prof Peter McDermott
| Research Interests | The overall vision and strategy for my work is to try to make a real difference in the infrastructure, construction, built environment and wider sectors. I consider my core academic discipline to be “Construction Management” – applying management theories and principles to the management of projects and businesses, as well as to the development of understanding of the structure of the infrastructure and construction sectors. Both my research and enterprise activities have been focused on the application area of “Construction Procurement” – not only as a technical system but also as a means of bringing about social, economic and environmental change. I seek to operate on the boundaries between construction research, construction policy and construction practice. My earlier career was more focused on the domain of management of projects. Later I came to see that the behaviour and motivation of individuals and firms in the infrastructure and construction sectors (compared to counterparts in some other sectors) was driven by the context within which they operated – the structure of the supply side of the industry, its institutions (and the pervading cultural and trust factors). In turn, these drivers were influenced by the way that work is placed within the sector/s – i.e. how clients choose to procure. My interest in procurement is, therefore, an attempt to understand the competitive forces within the sector/s, and the governance, commissioning and procurement rules therein. My career ambition is to to make a meaningful contribution across research, policy/practice) and teaching (in my chosen field of management). Industrial Strategy Social Value Public procurement as driver for social, economic and environmental change Procurement Policy Procurement Strategy Framework Agreements Construction Skills Political Economy of Construction Infrastucture Procurement |
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| Teaching and Learning | Currently teaching Procurement at Level 5 (undergraduate) and Level 7 (masters level). |
| PhD Supervision Availability | Yes |
CIB in Conversation with Peter McDermott - Recorded January 2022 - Uploaded April 2022
I have chosen to include this video as the format from CIB requires the interviewee to reflect over a longer period - something we don't always do. https://cibworld.org/cib-in-conversation-with-peter-mcdermott/ "In January 2022 our guest on CIB in Conversation was Dr. Peter McDermott, Professor of Construction procurement and Management, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford. At Salford he is charged with leading industry and policy engagement regionally and nationally, and a consistent theme throughout our conversation was his interest in industry change and government policy, particularly the role of procurement as a lever for change. He talked about his early career in academia and his development as a researcher, and he also discussed his involvement with CIB, particularly as Co-Coordinator of CIB’s Working Commission W092 on Procurement Systems. Peter’s ‘Top Opportunity’ for policy makers was to recognise and deploy the power of procurement to achieve industry change and other policy goals such as ‘net zero’."