Impact of integration management on construction project management performance

Abstract

Construction project performance relies on different dimensions of project management. Among those, integration management is of paramount importance since effective project management starts with the integration of processes and people within a construction project. This study investigates the influence of various components of integration management on construction project management performance and quantifies the relationship between those components and integration management. The proposed components of integration management are the development of a project charter, knowledge integration, process integration, staff integration, supply chain integration, and integration of changes; whereas the dimensions of project management performance are time, cost, quality, safety, and client satisfaction. A questionnaire was designed and administered to construction professionals and data from 121 projects was analyzed using structural equation modeling. The data was analyzed by using software, called SPSS AMOS. The findings of the research indicate that integration management has a strong impact on project management performance. The study contributes to the project management body of knowledge in that it develops a conceptual framework consisting of specific components for integration management, reveals the impact of integration management on performance, and proposes several tools and strategies for enabling effective integration along the project life cycle. Industry practitioners may benefit from the framework developed by considering the components proposed and following strategies recommended for construction phases.