Senaratne, S and Ruwanpura, M (2016) Communication in construction: A management perspective through case studies in Sri Lanka. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 12(1), pp. 3-18. ISSN 1745-2007
Abstract
Effective communication process is essential for the success of construction projects. Previous research shows that construction project teams spend majority of their time communicating with other parties and stakeholders. However, only few previous studies address project-level communication process in construction, in particular, from a project management perspective. This research aimed to explore how construction project teams manage different stages of project communication process as identified in the project management bodies of knowledge, namely stakeholder identification, communication planning, information distribution, stakeholder management and performance reporting. The case study research method was used to investigate the research problem. Three construction projects in Sri Lanka were chosen for the study. Semi-structured interviews with top management who represented each key party (client, consultant and contractor) were undertaken within the selected cases. The findings revealed how project communication process was managed by the project team by use of various project management tools and techniques during the five key stages. This research offers useful implications for the construction industry, in particular, on how construction project teams should engage formally in managing communication process by use of appropriate project management tools and techniques. Further case studies will help us to confirm the research findings in a wider context.Effective communication process is essential for the success of construction projects. Previous research shows that construction project teams spend majority of their time communicating with other parties and stakeholders. However, only few previous studies address project-level communication process in construction, in particular, from a project management perspective. This research aimed to explore how construction project teams manage different stages of project communication process as identified in the project management bodies of knowledge, namely stakeholder identification, communication planning, information distribution, stakeholder management and performance reporting. The case study research method was used to investigate the research problem. Three construction projects in Sri Lanka were chosen for the study. Semi-structured interviews with top management who represented each key party (client, consultant and contractor) were undertaken within the selected cases. The findings revealed how project communication process was managed by the project team by use of various project management tools and techniques during the five key stages. This research offers useful implications for the construction industry, in particular, on how construction project teams should engage formally in managing communication process by use of appropriate project management tools and techniques. Further case studies will help us to confirm the research findings in a wider context.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | project management; case studies; project teams; communication; construction projects; architectural engineering; stakeholders; human resource management |
| Index terms: | construction industry, stakeholder identification, stakeholder management, project team, project management, information distribution, top management, architectural engineering, construction project, Sri Lanka, human resource management, interview, project communication, case study, construction project team |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, participation process, project delivery, design practice, management, production management, Geography, professional development, project management theory and practice, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Human Resources, Design Practice, Organizational Design, Information Management, Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context, Stakeholder Management |
| 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