Patterns of Communication Management in Project Teams

Abstract

In present, dynamically developing organizations, that often realize business tasks using project-based approach, effective project management is of paramount importance. Numerous reports and scientific papers present lists of critical success factors in project management, and communication management is usually at the very top of the list. But even though the communication practices are found to be associated with most of the success dimensions, they are not given enough attention and the communication processes and practices formalized in the company’s project management methodology are neither followed nor prioritized by project managers. This paper aims at supporting project managers and teams in effective managing communication and documentation processes. Its main contribution is the definition of eleven communication management patterns, which promote a context-problem-solution approach to communication management in projects, in the four complementary categories regarding project communication management practices – informational, strategical, emotional and practical, and as such can be used to deal with different types of project communication management problems.