Ameliorating time and cost control with project learning and communication management

Abstract

PurposeLegions 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/approachA 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.FindingsThe 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/implicationsA possible limitation of the study is its focus on a small group of Malaysian practitioners delimits the generalizability of the findings.Originality/valueA 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.

Project Managers’ Personality and Project Success: Moderating Role of External Environmental Factors

“…The focus of project management success hinges upon the process of project and successful accomplishment of objectives of 'cost' and 'time'. In the context of construction projects, it has been argued that the third criterion should be something other than quality, such as either scope, performance, or requirements [46]. It was argued that it would be more suitable to incorporate scope than quality as the third vertex of the iron triangle.…”

Communication and Information Flow in Polish Construction Projects

“…Original work. et al,(1993) [54];Hill (1995) [30];Azam et al, (1998) [29]; Yap and Skitmore (2020)[55];Shirazi and Hampson (1998) [56];Swaffield (1998) [31];Swan et al (2001) [32];Mutti and Hughes (2001) [33];…”

Criticality of project knowledge and experience in the delivery of construction projects

“…In this context, expertise, skills, competencies and specialised knowledge of the project personnel are internal to the organisation, whereas legal restrictions related to laws and regulations are external to the organisation (Project Management Institute, 2017). In exploring the types of reusable knowledge for effective time and cost control, Yap and Skitmore (2020) observe that familiarity with the authority’s requirements and submission guidelines is needed to plan for timelines, administer the submission processes and execute the handover of a completed facility. Notably, lack of experience in issues related to EEFs is a significant factor affecting construction schedules and cost management (Olawale and Sun, 2010; Alaghbari et al , 2007).…”

“…Most notably, construction errors are often manifested because of poor communication and lack of reflective learning (Love, 2020). To ameliorate time and cost performance, Yap and Skitmore (2020) develop a knowledge-based project control model that comprises four strategic enablers of learning situations, effective communication, project learning and reusable project knowledge. They also assert that using the “right” methods, techniques, technologies, practices, processes or even people are important for successful project execution.…”