Maqsoom, A; Hamad, M; Ashraf, H; Thaheem, M J and Umer, M (2020) Managerial control mechanisms and their influence on project performance: An investigation of the moderating role of complexity risk. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 27(9), pp. 2451-2475. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: Despite the efforts of project managers and the widespread use of project management methodologies, most of the projects remain unfulfilling in terms of delivering targeted performance. This for most part can be attributed to the inability of an organization to implement control mechanisms and ineffective management of complexity risk. Keeping in view the aforementioned problem, the objective of this study is to investigate the association between control modes and project performance. Moreover, this study also examines the moderating role of complexity risk on the association among various control modes and project performance. Design/methodology/approach: The data were collected from 171 construction projects through a postal questionnaire survey. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was utilized for testing the hypothesized relationships of the research model. Findings: This study found significant positive relation between formal and informal control mechanisms and project performance. It is found that complexity risk significantly moderates the relationship between control modes and project performance. The results indicate that complexity risk positively moderates the relationship between outcome control and clan control with project performance. Furthermore, complexity risks negatively moderates the relationship between behavior control and project performance. However, the association between self-control and project performance is found insignificant in the presence of complexity risk. Originality/value: This study is the first attempt to study the relationship of control mechanisms, complexity risk and project performance in the construction industry.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | complexity risk; construction; formal control; informal control; project performance |
| Index terms: | project manager, project management, construction industry, testing, presence, investigation, project performance, survey, structural equation modelling, outcome control, complexity, partial least square, questionnaire, methodology, behaviour control, construction project |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, profession, professional practice, environmental science, project delivery, production management, project management theory and practice, research methods, industry analysis, behavioral psychology, systems engineering, statistical analysis |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Sustainability, Project Management, Research Practice, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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