Frödell, M; Josephson, P E and Lindahl, G (2008) Swedish construction clients' views on project success and measuring performance. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 6(1), pp. 21-32. ISSN 1726-0531
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this paper is to increase the understanding of clients' attitudes to project success and to measuring performance. Four questions are discussed: what are the success factors, what are the success criteria, how to achieve success and what are the characteristics of systems for measuring project performance? The findings will support the development of systems for measuring performance in construction projects. Design/methodology/approach: The paper focuses on professional clients and their organizations within the field of Swedish construction. It is based on semi-structured interviews with 23 experienced individuals within professional client organisations. Findings: The most important success factors have been identified as the user's participation, commitment to the project, high standard of quality consideration among the construction workforce and team working. The most important characteristics for systems for measuring performance are simplicity and credible results. Practical implications: Construction clients are often viewed in the literature as having similar views on project success. However, their views differ depending on their businesses, i.e. if they build to accommodate its own organisation, build to own and let or build to sell for maximised profit. This must be considered when developing systems for measuring performance. Originality/value: The paper presents Swedish professional clients' views on project success. The findings are useful when designing and developing systems for measuring performance in construction projects.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | critical success factors; performance measurement; quality; project management; Sweden |
| Index terms: | project success, performance measurement, Sweden, construction client, project performance, project management, success criteria, interview, success factor, client organization, profit, commitment, methodology, construction project, critical success factor |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, client relations, practitioner, control systems, psychology, economic analysis, health monitoring assessment and metrics, performance measurement, research methods, production management, Geography, project management theory and practice, assessment methods |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, Quality Management, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here