Kunkcu, H.; Koc, K. and Gurgun, A. P. (2026) Technology-enhanced communication and contract management in construction projects. International Journal of Construction Education and Research, 22(2), pp. 254-283. ISSN 1557-8771
Abstract
The significance of communication and contract administration in construction projects has been emphasized regarding their impacts on project success. Various technologies have been adopted to meet the project expectations in line with the objectives. Existing literature, however, offers inadequate exploration of the most effective technological tools for resilient communication and contract management processes. This study aims to investigate the technologies and their constructive impacts on one or both of the processes. A systematic literature review was conducted to explore the recent technological tools/methods. Then, the most effective technological advancements were evaluated through construction professionals' opinions and various statistical analyses were performed. Findings demonstrate that mobile applications, software tools, and cloud computing could effectively boost the practices in both processes. Results further indicate that blockchain and smart contract can contribute to improved contract management, while tracking technologies, mobile computing, and internet of things are more instrumental in the improvement of communication management. Understanding the technology that enhances the effectiveness of the processes can provide insights regarding the most critical technology in accordance with the project objectives. It would also contribute to an optimized allocation of project resources by using the most effective tools, which can support improved project management practices.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | collaboration; communication; contract administration; technology |
| Index terms: | internet, effectiveness, construction project, cloud computing, blockchain, contract management, smart contract, mobile computing, statistical analysis, systematic literature review, project management practice, contract administration, construction professional, collaboration, mobile application, project success, exploration |
| Subjects: | professional development, contract management, environmental resource management, digital infrastructure, management, digital technology, innovation and technology management, performance management, research evaluation and metrics, project management theory and practice, production management, computing systems, data science |
| Topics: | Project Management, Research Practice, Organizational Design, Information Management, Quality Management, Digital Applications, Contract Administration, Sustainability |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
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