Performance and Impacts of Web-Based Project Management Systems in Construction Projects

Abstract

While web-based project management systems are widely being implemented in most construction projects, there is a clear lack of understanding among the industry professional in relation to any quantified benefit and achieving success in projects. The aim of this research is to unfold the understanding of the key factors affecting the implementation decisions and aided benefits of such webbased systems in projects empirically. Adopting the partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach, the relational links between the six latent factors associated with the functionalities of web-bases PM systems have been assessed. The effect of six latent variables on the performance of web-based project management systems has been analysed using the data from a questionnaire survey of 77 respondents comprising the stakeholders within construction industry. The results of the data analysis suggest that project complexity (PC) and information streamline (IS) are the two key factors supporting the implementation of web-based systems (PWB) in projects. The general perception of increased users’ satisfaction (US) and transparency and accountability (TA) has no strong empirical basis for rationalising the use of web-based systems across projects. Effective monitoring and control (EMC) during project delivery can only be marginally enhanced by implementing web-based project management systems. With a clear understanding of the significance of these factors in the context of implementation of web-based project management systems, these findings could potentially contribute to the development of company’s procedures or to enhance existing knowledge within the construction industry.