Improving Communication in Non-traditional Communication: The Case of Critical Competencies

Abstract

Communication behaviours have been consistently identified among key soft factors to compliment the technical factors towards improving communication performance in construction project communication. Though various soft factors have been extensively and rigorously pursued, not much has been done of communication competencies and skills for construction communication. The theoretical position of communication performance improvement posits that effectiveness of project team communication appears to be highly dependent on two interrelated factors of which the competences of team leaders and participants to facilitate, stimulate and motivate all members to communicate effectively as a team are most critical. Construction project design and delivery is a collaborative social act and information intensive that relies on effective interaction between project stakeholders relying on key communication skills to effectively communicate. Given the varied meaning and lack of consensus on what constitutes communication competence and skills, this chapter, from a theoretical conception, outlines two key communication competencies and skills for information flow and information composition towards effective task and relational (social) interactions and communication in project delivery. The right application of these skills, will cause project teams and work groups in project delivery to make use of adequate levels for task-based and socio-emotional interactions. This will motivate the right communication performance in construction project delivery.