Communication and Information Flow in Polish Construction Projects

Ewelina Kania,Grzegorz Śladowski,Elżbieta Radziszewska-Zielina

doi:10.3390/su12219182

Ewelina Kania, Grzegorz Śladowski + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/su12219182

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Nov 4, 2020
Citations: 11	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Cracow University of Technology

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to analyse communication and information flow within construction projects on the basis of a survey study and a review of the literature. The subject of communication and its impact on carrying out a construction project is widely discussed in global academic literature. Many scholars point to problems with communication and information flow while also reporting that it directly affects construction project time and cost. In the literature, communication is also presented as an essential factor that improves safety and partnering in construction projects. There is also a group of studies that points to the lack of effective communication as the cause of delays and modifications. The authors, in reference to global studies, present the results of a survey study performed in Poland on a group of 160 construction industry practitioners. Information about five research areas was collected. These areas included: general information about communication and information flow between construction project participants, problems in carrying out construction projects in relation to the lack of effective communication, the impact of communication on the success of carrying out a construction project, communication costs, and the need to develop a tool (a digital system) that would support construction project managers in the optimal control over communication between project participants. On the basis of the obtained research results and the literature study, it was found that effective communication and information flow within a construction project can improve the construction process and that there exists a need to develop a comprehensive approach that would aid construction project managers in ensuring a more effective information flow.

Highlights

The development of the construction industry over the years has made construction processes increasingly tied with dynamic and complex activity; awareness of the need for better project management in the construction sector increases [1]
The case of the construction industry is most probably a situation wherein there is an excess of communication at a given time, as teams in various construction sectors take measures and actions and it is necessary to engage in communication [21]
Based on the literature review and survey study performed by the authors, it can be concluded that communication between construction project participants is an essential matter

Summary

Introduction

The development of the construction industry over the years has made construction processes increasingly tied with dynamic and complex activity; awareness of the need for better project management in the construction sector increases [1] This is partially the effect of increasingly higher client demands concerning design and construction technology, performance, savings and time. Communication systems are similar to central nervous systems which allow hundreds of people to perform many tasks and to coordinate their skills and efforts towards achieving a common goal [5]. This is essential in the construction industry [6].

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