Enabling construction project managers through a management game

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arash Fahmi Hassan ◽  
Farzad Haghighi-Rad ◽  
Amir-Reza Abtahi
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Quality Analysis ◽  
Simulation Game ◽  
Quality Level ◽  
Construction Project Management ◽  
Management Game ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Knowledge

Purpose This paper aims to design and develop a management game in the field of construction project management so that by playing the game, the required level of knowledge, skills, capabilities and overall project management competencies in individuals will be promoted. Also, player’s competencies can be measured. Design/methodology/approach This study, in terms of application, is applied research. The construction project management simulation game (CPMSG) was played by 18 university students. To evaluate the level of the players’ project management knowledge and quality of the game, questionnaires were used. Findings The game improves the players’ project management knowledge by 158%, and the educational program that was formulated in the game has also achieved the first three levels of bloom’s taxonomy of educational objectives. In the field of game quality, analysis of players’ results of responses and scores show that the game has a good quality level. Originality/value The CPMS game provides a useful tool for project management training, especially in the field of construction projects. It helps in addition to improving the quality of teaching theoretical topics, making students acquainted with the risks and uncertainties of such projects, and provides a simulated experience. In the field of common behavior analysis and player’s selection, the results indicated that the majority of groups used high-quality materials during the games to perform activities related to the appearance of the building (such as finishing and building facade activities) and used medium quality materials in implementing infrastructural activities such as brickwork and floor construction that are not visible in the appearance of work.

Categorising on-site problems

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micael Thunberg ◽  
Martin Rudberg ◽  
Tina Karrbom Gustavsson
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Project Management ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Internal Validity ◽  
Internal Communication ◽  
The Body ◽  
Construction Project Management ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Body Of Knowledge

Purpose This study aims to identify and categorise common on-site problems from a supply chain management (SCM) perspective and to trace the origin of these problems in the construction project process, the supply chain or in the intersection between these processes. This allows for identification of how on-site problems affect SCM in construction projects and how they can be mitigated. Design/methodology/approach A literature review in combination with semi-structured interviews was used to identify on-site problems. This enabled triangulation and strengthened both construct validity and internal validity. Findings On-site problems can be categorised in one of the four following categories: material flows, internal communication, external communication or complexity. The first category has its origin in the supply chain, the second in the construction project process, the third in the supply chain-construction process intersection on site and the fourth in the construction project as a whole. The findings conclude that on-site problems often originate from construction companies’ lack of supply chain orientation. Research limitations/implications It is suggested that supply chain planning (SCP) can facilitate on-site problem mitigation in construction project management. This extends the body of knowledge of SCP in construction project management and supports the development of effective on-site construction project management. Practical implications The results show that SCP can aid construction project management in handling on-site problems earlier in the project process. Originality/value The main value lies in extending the body of knowledge in construction project management research by applying an SCM perspective and by introducing SCP to support more effective construction project management.

scholarly journals Developing dimensions to measure the quality of construction project management service

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ha Nam Khanh Giao
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Professional Services ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Construction Project Management ◽  
Customer's Loyalty ◽  
Improve Service Quality ◽  
Do So

In construction industry today, the consultancy companies need to improve service quality- an important part of consultancy service in order to enhance the customer’s loyalty, boosting the business for future projects and word of mouth reputation. The question is whether the dimensions applied to measure the quality of the generic services can be applied to the professional services such as the construction project management service? If yes, how to do so? This research is based on the literature review, especially Parasuraman et al (1985, 1988), Hoxley (2004), Murugavarothayan et al (2000) and Ong (2007); and the qualitative method to suggest possible set of dimensions to measure the service quality of the construction project management.

Soft skills of construction project management professionals and project success factors

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Zuo ◽  
Xianbo Zhao ◽  
Quan Bui Minh Nguyen ◽  
Tony Ma ◽  
Shang Gao
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Project Success ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Construction Project Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Project Management Professionals ◽  
Management Professionals

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to identify the soft skills of construction project management; and second, to investigate the influence of these soft skills on project success factors in the Vietnamese construction industry. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey was conducted with 108 project management professionals from the Vietnamese construction industry. Partial least square structural equation modelling was employed in data analysis. Findings Four-dimensional structure of project success factors was confirmed in this study. Results also showed that soft skills of project managers significantly contributed to project success factors and hence the project success. Research limitations/implications There may be geographical limitation on the conclusions drawn from the findings. Similarly, the sample size was still small, despite a relatively high response rate. In addition, the majority of the respondents were contractors and clients as other project players were reluctant to respond to the survey. Practical implications This study provides an understanding of the relationship between soft skills and project success factors. Originality/value Although there have been studies focused on soft skills of project management and project success factors, few have attempted to analyse the effects of these soft skills on critical success factors. Thus, this study adds significantly to the existing research on both project management skills and project success factors.

scholarly journals Management Method and Intelligent Technology Analysis of Construction Management

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 34-37
Author(s):  
Jingjing Sun
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Engineering Management ◽  
Construction Project Management ◽  
Construction Engineering ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Management Method ◽  
Intelligent Technology ◽  
The Times

The construction industry is a critical lifeline for China’s national economy’s development. The growth of thebuilding business has piqued the interest of a variety of industries. To ensure the quality of construction engineering, it is necessary to improve the technical level of construction engineering management by strengthening construction engineering management through various effective methods, following the development of The Times, and strengthening the introduction of intelligent technology. The author investigates and analyses the importance of incorporating intelligent technology into construction project management, and proposes effective strategies for incorporating intelligent technology into construction project management in the hopes of improving the quality of construction project management.

Measuring service quality in construction project management service at AIC Management Co., Ltd.- A dimension-by-dimension analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ha Nam Khanh Giao
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Professional Services ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Construction Project Management ◽  
Dimension Analysis ◽  
Big Picture ◽  
Improve Service Quality

In construction industry today, the consultancy companies need to improve service quality- an important part of consultancy service - in order to enhance customers’ loyalty, boosting business for future projects and word of mouth reputation. The question is whether the dimensions applied to measure the quality of the generic services can be applied to professional services such as construction project management service? If yes, how to do so? The research aims to conduct an assessment on service quality at AIC Management Co., Ltd based on SERVQUAL, a form of dimension-by-dimension analysis. The outcome would provide management with a big picture of current service quality. Consequently, recommendations will be provided according to the findings.

Testing trust scale measurement invariance in project teams

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhikun Ding ◽  
Fungfai Ng ◽  
Jiayuan Wang
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Project Teams ◽  
Construction Project Management ◽  
Measurement Scales ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Trust Scale

Purpose – An important assumption in testing theoretical models is measurement invariance. However, little research in construction project management investigates the issue of measurement invariance. To bridge the gap, the current paper aims at: first, testing trust measurement invariance in project teams across gender; second, delineating various measurement invariance tests and demonstrating them with Amos; and last but not least, increasing researchers' awareness about measurement invariance issue in the construction project management field. Design/methodology/approach – The measurement invariance of trust across gender is investigated using survey data collected from architects in project design teams of A-level architectural design institutes in China. Multisample confirmatory factor analysis is conducted with Amos to test configural invariance, metric invariance, scalar invariance, factor covariance and variance invariance, error variance invariance, latent mean invariance of the Chinese version of McAllister's two-dimension trust scale. Findings – All the test results of the above invariances are supportive. Goodness-of-fit indexes such as CFI deserve more empirical studies to verify. Research limitations/implications – The results imply that the trust structure of male and female architects is equivalent. In other words, male and female architect data of trust research in construction project management could be aggregated. Practical implications – It is recommended that test of measurement invariance should be conducted while new measurement scales are under construction. Originality/value – Since all the invariance tests are rarely conducted within a single study, the current research is the first paper to investigate the measurement invariance issue in the construction industry.

Barriers to sustainable construction project management: the case of Iran

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Fathalizadeh ◽  
M. Reza Hosseini ◽  
Seyyed Saeed Vaezzadeh ◽  
David J. Edwards ◽  
Igor Martek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Construction Project Management ◽  
Sustainable Practices ◽  
Priority List ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Importance Index ◽  
Data Collection Instrument

PurposeThe barriers to integrating sustainable practices into construction project management require extensive resource allocations to resolve. Within developing countries such as Iran (where resources are scarce), remedial strategies adopted must prioritise tackling those barriers that can be expected to yield maximum return on investment. The candidate barriers are many, and this paper aims to identify a hierarchy of barriers, providing a priority list of remedial targets.Design/methodology/approachA mixed philosophical stance of interpretivism and post-positivism is adopted within a deductive approach and survey strategy. A list of 30 known barriers are identified from extant literature and used to formulate a questionnaire data collection instrument administered within the Iranian construction industry. Data collected from 176 practitioners are analysed using the relative importance index and Mann–Whitney U test to compare groups based on the participants' demographic variables.FindingsThe findings challenge the common assumption that items related to market and workforce experience are major inhibitors of change. That is, economics and regulatory dependent barriers have a higher impact on the failure of a shift to sustainable practices in Iran. The most influential barriers to incorporating sustainability in construction projects are: (1) lack of understanding of the potential benefits; (2) insufficient cooperation among practitioners, research institutions and environmental organisations; and (3) a lack of a systematic approach to pursuing sustainability goals. No significant associations are detected between the affiliation of the respondents and their attitude towards the issue. Thus, a generalised approach can be applied to a broader range of organisations and construction projects in Iran.Originality/valueWhile studies on sustainability impediments at the firm or project level are ubiquitous within literature, this research identifies that the most significant barriers to sustainable project management in Iran, as an underexplored context, are those experienced at the economic and institutional level. Moreover, this novel research presents important insights into the potential effects of participants' demographic profiles on their view of the importance of identified barriers.

scholarly journals Developing dimensions to Measure the Quality of Construction Project Management Service

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ha Nam Khanh Giao ◽  
Nguyen Doan Trang
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Professional Services ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Construction Project Management ◽  
Customer's Loyalty ◽  
Improve Service Quality ◽  
Do So

In construction industry today, the consultancy companies need to improve service quality- an important part of consultancy service in order to enhance the customer’s loyalty, boosting the business for future projects and word of mouth reputation. The question is whether the dimensions applied to measure the quality of the generic services can be applied to the professional services such as the construction project management service? If yes, how to do so? This research is based on the literature review, especially Parasuraman et al (1985, 1988), Hoxley (2004), Murugavarothayan et al (2000) and Ong (2007); and the qualitative method to suggest possible set of dimensions to measure the service quality of the construction project management.

Effects of cultural assimilation on the performance of a construction project – evidence from UAE

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 430-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asad Ullah Khan
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
National Culture ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Management Teams ◽  
Construction Project Management ◽  
Cultural Assimilation ◽  
Cultural Perspective ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of the national culture on the performance of a construction project in the UAE. This study benchmarks reason for the success or failure of construction projects from the cultural perspective. Design/methodology/approach – This study takes a case study approach, using the qualitative research method. Data were collected through participant observation and project records as part of the lessons learned and the data were analysed using the coding procedure of grounded theory. Re-confirmation and cross-checking interviews were also conducted to confirm the correctness of the coding. The qualitative data were expressed in quantitative terms to signify statistically the effect of the national culture on the construction project. In this way, the research methodology employed triangulation in its data analysis. Findings – This study found differences in the national culture of the Chinese construction project management teams in overseas construction projects in the UAE. The level of uncertainty and long-term orientation contributed to the success of one of the construction projects under scrutiny and the failure of the other. Research limitations/implications – The study was limited to two construction projects in the UAE. Further research into construction projects is required to validate whether the national culture is generally an element to consider in overseas construction projects. Practical implications – The research study provides reasons for the success and failure of the two projects from the perspective of differences in national culture. Understanding the cultural differences in international construction projects should help to resolve project issues before these need to be terminated. The termination of a project has economic and social implications for all the stakeholders. Originality/value – No research study was found to have identified the national culture dimensions of overseas construction project management teams in the UAE. The longitudinal study helped to understand cultural assimilation during the execution of construction projects in the UAE.

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