Search results

1 – 10 of over 133000
Article
Publication date: 1 March 2003

J. Goczol and C. Scoubeau

The communication concerning situations of project marketing (space industry, train construction, engineering, building construction, …) does not lead to a lot of researches and…

5658

Abstract

The communication concerning situations of project marketing (space industry, train construction, engineering, building construction, …) does not lead to a lot of researches and publications. An attempt will be made in this article, to establish the link between project and corporate communication considering the various steps in the development of a particular project strategy. This induces the development of the identity of the firm, the definition of the main targets (sociogram approach) and the development of particular tools at both an internal and an external level. It appeared in this study that the traditional communication mix arrives late after the management communication and the organizational communication. Concerning the tools, the relational network seems to be the best adapted to the particular situation and the targeting allows a good despatching of the resources at this level. The firms have in fact to develop both a functional and a relational positioning.

Details

Corporate Communications: An International Journal, vol. 8 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1356-3289

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 May 2014

H. Frank Cervone

The purpose of this review is to look at some of the common mistakes made related to communication within a project and how those mistakes can be avoided. Communication in projects

17961

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this review is to look at some of the common mistakes made related to communication within a project and how those mistakes can be avoided. Communication in projects is a critical factor in a project’s success. Many times, project teams forget some basic rules for communicating with their stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach of this paper is to provide a general overview of common themes in the project management literature related to communication within projects.

Findings

While communication failures in projects are caused by many factors, the project team ultimately bears the burden for ensuring successful communication within a project. There are several common causes of communication failures. Thankfully, there are also some simple things that project teams can do to lessen the likelihood of miscommunication.

Research limitations/implications

As this is a general overview, this article only explores the more commonly experienced issues related to project miscommunication.

Originality/value

By observing some relatively easy to remember questions and concerns related to communication, a project team can be more effective in communicating with their project stakeholders. Effective communication will generally lead to better outcomes and, therefore, a higher likelihood for overall project success.

Details

OCLC Systems and Services: International digital library perspectives, vol. 30 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1065-075X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 February 2009

S. Tai, Y. Wang and C.J. Anumba

The purpose of this paper is to show how effective project team communications is one of the major challenges to a construction project's success. The success of large‐scale…

3399

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how effective project team communications is one of the major challenges to a construction project's success. The success of large‐scale construction projects is critical to Chinese economy. The purposes of the research are to grasp the current status of communications in large‐scale construction projects in China and lay a basis for further research on project communications.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted by postal questionnaire and telephone.

Findings

Through analyzing the data obtained from the survey, the communication problems in large‐scale construction projects in China are exposed. The roots of the problems are summarized as lack of good communication mechanism, weak organizational structures of construction teams, lack of uniform standards for construction information, and lack of support for advanced communication technologies.

Originality/value

The paper presents the directions for further research to improve communications in large‐scale construction projects in China.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 16 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 19 October 2022

Ayodeji E. Oke

Effective communication is the channel by which any industry survives. Communication can be through several convenient means in respect to nature of the information sent. In an…

Abstract

Effective communication is the channel by which any industry survives. Communication can be through several convenient means in respect to nature of the information sent. In an effective communication, a well-defined information is passed from the sender to the receiver whether by physical contact in close proximity or distance enabled through a designed medium (traditional or contemporary). Whichever way information is transferred, the importance of communication in construction activities cannot be neglected. In fact, with many barriers experienced before and during the construction process, a structured platform should always be available without hindrance for ease of flow from the project manager to the least member of the construction team.

Details

Measures of Sustainable Construction Projects Performance
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80382-998-2

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 August 2023

Haiyan Xie, Ying Hong, Mengyang Xin, Ioannis Brilakis and Owen Shi

The purpose of this study is to improve communication success through barrier identification and analysis so that the identified barriers can help project teams establish…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to improve communication success through barrier identification and analysis so that the identified barriers can help project teams establish effective information-exchange strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The recent publications on construction communication about time management are reviewed. Then, the semi-structured interviews are performed with both questionnaires and audio recordings (n1 = 18). Next, the collected data are analyzed using both statistical measures on the questionnaire survey and qualitative coding analysis on the text transcripts from an audio recording. Particularly, the identified barriers are substantiated using a scientometrics approach based on the published articles (2011–2020, n2 = 52,915) for purposeful information-sharing solutions in construction time management. Furthermore, the intervention strategies from the top 10 most-cited articles are analyzed and validated by comparisons with the results from construction surveys and relevant studies.

Findings

Based on the discussed communication difficulties, five main barriers were identified during time-cost risk management: probability and statistical concepts, availability of data from external resources, details of team member experiences, graphics (and graphical presentation skills), and spatial and temporal (a.k.a. 4D) simulation skills. For the improvement of communication skills and presentation quality regarding probability and statistical concepts, project teams should emphasize context awareness, case studies and group discussions. Details of communication techniques can be adjusted based on the backgrounds, experiences and expectations of team members.

Research limitations/implications

The dataset n1 has both size and duration limits because of the availability of the invited industry professionals. The dataset n2 considers the literature from 2011 to 2020. Any before-the-date and unpublished studies are not included in the study.

Practical implications

A thorough comprehension of communication barriers can help project teams develop speaking, writing and analytical thinking skills that will enable the teams to better deliver ideas, thoughts and meanings. Additionally, the established discussion on barrier-removal strategies may enhance time management effectiveness, reduce project delays, avoid confusion and misunderstanding and save rework costs.

Social implications

This research calls for the awareness of communication barriers in construction project execution and team collaboration. The identified barriers and the established solutions enrich the approaches of construction companies to share information with communities and society.

Originality/value

This is the first identification model for communication barriers in the time management of the construction industry to the authors' knowledge. The influencing factors and the countermeasures of communication difficulties highlighted by the research were not examined systematically and holistically in previous studies. The findings provide a new approach to facilitate the development of powerful communication strategies and to improve project execution.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 August 2022

Ofer Zwikael, Michelle Salmona, Jack Meredith and Seyed Ashkan Zarghami

Although the literature is clear on what comprises effective project stakeholder management, communication between key stakeholders and project managers is often ineffective…

2274

Abstract

Purpose

Although the literature is clear on what comprises effective project stakeholder management, communication between key stakeholders and project managers is often ineffective. Research is silent on stakeholders' insufficient knowledge of project management terminology, which is a barrier for such effective communication. This paper aims to identify the project management concepts that key stakeholders should understand to improve effective communication.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs a three-step research design. In the first step, based on threshold concept theory, the authors identify the key project management concepts through interviews with 20 project management practitioners, trainers and trainees. In the second step, the authors confirm the findings from the first step and identify effective approaches to enhance project stakeholders' communication through seven additional interviews with project stakeholders. In the third step, the authors construct a functional model of the research findings by employing a system-level modeling tool.

Findings

This research identifies five project management threshold concepts (TC) that are challenging for project stakeholders to understand (1) project benefits, (2) the iron triangle, (3) the critical path, (4) uncertainty and (5) project leadership. Following these knowledge barriers, the paper proposes unique approaches to develop effective project stakeholder communication.

Originality/value

This paper advances project stakeholder management research by identifying knowledge barriers and providing project managers with more effective approaches to better engage with their stakeholders.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 30 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 September 2015

Paul Ziek and J. Dwight Anderson

Project communication is overwhelmingly viewed as the proper and timely delivery of pertinent project information. The view of communication in this way misses the constitutive…

13350

Abstract

Purpose

Project communication is overwhelmingly viewed as the proper and timely delivery of pertinent project information. The view of communication in this way misses the constitutive nature of communication. Communication is more than message exchange but a way that project managers generate the grounds for a project. The purpose of this paper is to explore how the communicative practices of project managers creates a dialogue with stakeholders that ultimately impacts the content, direction and outcome of a project.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were performed with project managers from the Project Management Office of a large international bank. The project managers were responsible for their own projects of varying size with scopes that included everything from marketing initiatives to heavily oriented technology projects.

Findings

Overall, the project managers interviewed for the current project do not subscribe to the belief that communication is part of a constitutive dialogue. Instead, when discussing their overall views of communication, 82 percent of the interviewees took a transmission approach to the action. To that end, they believe that the goal of communication is to send clear, unambiguous and complete information.

Originality/value

Unlike other studies about communication within the field of project management, the current study looks to uncover how communication is part of a constitutive dialogue between a project manager and project stakeholders. The researchers did not look just to understand the micro-level exchanges between project managers and stakeholders but how those exchanges enabled a sustained dialogue that shapes the scope and trajectory of a project.

Details

International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, vol. 8 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8378

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 February 2014

David Perkins

The purpose of this paper is to gain a greater understanding of fear-based information withholding in project-manager-to-project-sponsor (PM2PS) communication and to propose…

2341

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gain a greater understanding of fear-based information withholding in project-manager-to-project-sponsor (PM2PS) communication and to propose future research directions.

Design/methodology/approach

The research consisted of a review of the literature related to the withholding of information in subordinate-to-superior communication and in PM2PS communication. Literature from project communication studies and literature from general communication theory was consulted.

Findings

Using defensive silence theory as a conceptual framework, five research propositions specific to fear-based information withholding in PM2PS communication are offered.

Research limitations/implications

The study findings are limited to PM2PS communication based upon fear. The study provides a foundation for further research in this area within the conceptual framework of defensive silence theory.

Practical implications

The practical implication of this paper is that certain perceptions and behaviors of a project sponsor can be related to fear-based information withholding in PM2PS communication.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper is that it extends defensive silence theory into the realm of PM2PS communication. The value of this paper is to provide a catalyst for subsequent empirical-based research in order gain greater insight into fear-based information withholding in PM2PS communication.

Details

Leadership & Organization Development Journal, vol. 35 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-7739

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 October 2021

Titus Ebenezer Kwofie, Samuel Amos-Abanyie, Frank Fugar, Samuel Owusu Afram, Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa and Emmanuel Owusu Banahene

The perception that the repetitive nature and attributes of mass housing projects (MHPs) induce significant influence on communication among projects teams have persistently been…

Abstract

Purpose

The perception that the repetitive nature and attributes of mass housing projects (MHPs) induce significant influence on communication among projects teams have persistently been acknowledged without an empirical accentuation. This seemingly untested knowledge tends to limit the predictive accuracy of success and effectiveness of adopted communication style, strategies and models in mass housing particularly due to the incidence of the repetitive attributes. The purpose of this study is to delineate the influence of the repetitive attributes of mass housing projects on communication performance among the project team.

Design/methodology/approach

Through the use of questionnaire survey and structural equation modelling analysis, a hypothesized model tested evaluated the effects of the repetitive attributes of mass housing on information flow and information composition communication performance.

Findings

In the case of influence on information flow, it was seen to be substantial whereas that of the information composition was moderate.

Originality/value

The findings offer empirical credence to the existing perception and indeed affirm that the repetitive features of MHPs significantly contribute to communication performance related to information flow and information composition among the project team. The implication of these findings is that, practitioners and stakeholders on mass housing are urged to explore bespoke communication methods, medium, strategies and management approaches that fit the MHP attributes and environment to engender managerial and communication efficiencies in the delivery.

Details

Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. 29 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-5771

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 February 2020

Jeffrey Boon Hui Yap and Martin Skitmore

Legions of projects fail to attain their time and cost objectives due to ineffective coordination. This is often due to a lack of essential learning from projects because of…

2326

Abstract

Purpose

Legions of projects fail to attain their time and cost objectives due to ineffective coordination. This is often due to a lack of essential learning from projects because of insufficient communication and working experience. One of the key reasons why this occurs is that managers are unaware of what knowledge needs to be retained. In contrast with knowledge management research, which mostly focuses on the systems and processes for capturing, storing, and retrieval of knowledge, this paper investigates the nature of project communication and learning and their role on project time and cost control.

Design/methodology/approach

A stratified proportional purposive sampling approach was adopted in choosing the interview participants for the study. They are experienced industry practitioners working on building construction projects in Malaysia. Content analysis was then performed on the interview data. The identified variables were further validated by 11 industry experts from the three primary construction stakeholders.

Findings

The results of a series of 12 in-depth interviews with industry practitioners are provided to reveal the effective communication tools for sharing and learning in a project-based environment, the learning inducing situations involved, and the use of reusable project experiences to improve project time and cost control.

Research limitations/implications

A possible limitation of the study is its focus on a small group of Malaysian practitioners delimits the generalizability of the findings.

Originality/value

A two-phase model with three-step project management process of input, tools, and output is developed from the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide as an aid for more effective knowledge reuse in project time and cost control in the future.

Details

International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, vol. 13 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8378

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 133000