Cultural background has a major effect on work and organizations, environment and human behavior, economic performance and development, and on social stability and exclusion. The construction sector has failed to face up to the problems which exist and to adopt strategies for dealing with them. This important new work sets out leading-edge social science and business-oriented thinking derived from a major EPSRC research project. Its interdisciplinary approach draws together industry and research, and is international in its relevance. Through several multidisciplinary themes, "People and Culture in Construction": explores the forces influencing economic performance and development ; examines how to improve the image and reality of the construction sector as an employer; looks at the forces shaping the industry and implications for its stability; considers the nature of work and the factors that underlie the success of businesses and organizations; analyzes the impact of government targets and policies on construction working practices and culture; and investigates how to address the skills shortfall currently affecting the industry's performance.