Communication in construction: a management perspective through case studies in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Effective communication process is essential for the success of construction projects. Previous research shows that construction project teams spend majority of their time communicating with other parties and stakeholders. However, only few previous studies address project-level communication process in construction, in particular, from a project management perspective. This research aimed to explore how construction project teams manage different stages of project communication process as identified in the project management bodies of knowledge, namely stakeholder identification, communication planning, information distribution, stakeholder management and performance reporting. The case study research method was used to investigate the research problem. Three construction projects in Sri Lanka were chosen for the study. Semi-structured interviews with top management who represented each key party (client, consultant and contractor) were undertaken within the selected cases. The findings revealed how project communication process was managed by the project team by use of various project management tools and techniques during the five key stages. This research offers useful implications for the construction industry, in particular, on how construction project teams should engage formally in managing communication process by use of appropriate project management tools and techniques. Further case studies will help us to confirm the research findings in a wider context.