Example construction organisation and management dissertation topic 2:

Representations of quantity surveying in the media: From Monty Python to Not the Nine O’ClockNews.

As a profession, quantity surveying has had a series of notable mentions in popular culture; featuring in two sketches of Monty Python, Not the Nine O’ClockNews, Keeping Up Appearances, and A Bit of Fry and Laurie. This dissertation has three primary aims. First, it evaluates the stereotype of quantity surveyors as portrayed in the above mentioned programmes. Secondly, it evaluates the public’s perception of the profession given those caricatures. Thirdly, it seeks the opinions of quantity surveyors already working within the field as to whether such portrayals help or hinder their working lives with regard to the respect that they receive from fellow professionals within the wider construction and project management sectors. This is a dissertation that accordingly uses a wide range of qualitative research techniques involving field interviews, face-to-face interviews and the construction, completion and evaluation of responses received via questionnaires.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Bonnar, I. D. (2007). Not as cool as fighter pilots: An exploration of identity and learning for full-time quantity surveying students.Master’s dissertation, University of Stirling.
• Cacciatori, E. andJacobides, M. G. (2005). The dynamic limits of specialization: Vertical integration reconsidered. Organization Studies, 26(12), pp. 1851-1883.
• Loosemore, M. and Tan, C. C. (2000).Occupational bias in construction management research.Construction Management & Economics, 18(7), pp. 757-766.