Emotional Intelligence as a Prerequisite to Project Managers” Enhancement in Delivering Construction Projects

Abstract

This study examined emotional intelligence as an instrument for enhancing the performance of project managers in the construction industry in Ibadan Metropolis. This was a view to determine the effect of the emotional intelligence (EI) of project managers on project management, as well as the relationship between project managers’ emotional intelligence and delivery of projects. The study employed survey research method to collect information from project managers, who are Quantity Surveyor, Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, and Architects. Seventy five project managers were randomly selected from building and construction industry in the study areas. A well-structured questionnaire was administered to the respondents. The data collected were analysed using SPSS Version 16. Descriptive and inferential statistic consisting mean, mode, percentage, frequency, and Chi-Square test were used respectively. The results showed that emotional intelligence is important to the field of project management with an overall mean value of 4.46 on a Likert Scale of 5. Chi-Square test showed a significantly positive relationship between the emotional intelligence level of the project managers and their performance on the job. A positive significance occurs in information handling in all the four domain of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management, unlike other variables such as managing project environment and resources, organising and coordination providing for growth and development and motivation and conflict handling that show both positive and negative significances. The paper concluded that emotional intelligence is a significant phenomenon in the field of project management, because it enhances the performance of project managers.