Al Nahyan, M T; Sohal, A S; Fildes, B N and Hawas, Y E (2012) Transportation infrastructure development in the UAE: Stakeholder perspectives on management practice. Construction Innovation, 12(4), pp. 492-514. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the major management issues that impact on mega transportation infrastructure projects in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and identify the factors that cause unsuccessful project completions. The paper further seeks to identify the changes that can be made to improve project success. Design/methodology/approach - This is a qualitative study that involved face-to-face interviews with 20 key experienced transportation construction stakeholders who had been involved in a number of different projects in the UAE. This was followed by a focus group discussion involving ten key stakeholders who had been involved in the construction of a mega project - the Dubai Fujairah Highway. Analysis of the interview data was conducted using NVivo. Findings - The findings highlight the complexity involved in managing mega transportation infrastructure projects in the UAE. Multiple stakeholders (government agencies, sponsors/clients, management firms, consultants and contractors) influence the various stages of projects. The need for effective communication, coordination, knowledge sharing and decision making amongst the stakeholders, especially during the planning and design stages, is highlighted as critical. Research limitations/implications - The main limitation is the small numbers interviewed for each stakeholder group. Nevertheless, the sample of interviews provides a good representation of the transport infrastructure construction industry in the UAE. Practical implications - Three major practical implications relate to: improving communication and coordination amongst government departments and key stakeholders to streamline effective knowledge sharing and decision making, leading to successful project outcomes; improving the skills and competencies of professional staff at all levels and subsequently delegating authority to lower levels; and the adoption of global international standards to improve planning, design and construction activities. Originality/value - The paper describes the first study of its kind conducted in the UAE that provides valuable insights with respect to transportation infrastructure project management.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction engineering works; construction management; project management; roads; stakeholders; transportation infrastructure construction; United Arab Emirates |
| Index terms: | management practice, methodology, decision-making, design stage, United Arab Emirates, complexity, interview, management issue, government agency, focus group, face, transport infrastructure, knowledge sharing, Dubai, construction engineering, transportation infrastructure, design and construction, construction industry, coordination, project management, project success, qualitative study, project outcome |
| Subjects: | decision analysis, systems engineering, infrastructure and transport systems, industry analysis, administrative law, engineering methods, research methods, management, project management theory and practice, Geography, psychology, knowledge management, contractual arrangements, professional practice, project completion, research design and methodology, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Legal Issues, Design Practice, Organizational Design, Business Strategy, Geographical Context, Project Management, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Information Management, Risk Management, Procurement |
| 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