Project Management Skills, People Management Skills, and Operational Excellence of Construction Project Managers in Private Construction Management Services

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the level of project management skills, people management skills and operational excellence of construction project managers in private construction services. The respondents were the project management team composed of 215 engineers, architects, technical staff and document controllers fairly distributed to the three business units. The study utilized the descriptive correlational research method. Analysis of data revealed the following findings: The construction project managers had a high level of project management skills in terms of scope management skills, schedule management skills, resources management skills, risks management skills, and quality management skills (=3.62). The construction project manager had a very high level of people management skills in terms of integrity, influence and persuasion, leadership, and planning (= 3.64). In terms of operational excellence, the construction project managers obtained a very high level on customer focus, flexibility, and systematic problem solving (= 3.62). A significant relationship was noted between construction project manager’s project management skills and people management skills; a significant relationship was perceived between project manager’s project management skills and operational excellence; and a significant relationship was noted on people management skills and operational excellence. Based on the summary of findings, the following conclusions were drawn, (1) The construction project managers had a very high level of project management skills in terms of scope management skills, schedule management skills, cost management skills, resources management skills, risks management skills, and quality management skills. (2) The construction project managers had a very high level of people management skills in terms of integrity, influence and persuasion, leadership, and planning. (3) The construction project managers had a very high level of operational excellence in terms of customer focus, flexibility, and systematic problem-solving. (4) The higher the level of construction project manager’s project management skills, the higher the level of their people management skills. (5) The higher the level of construction project manager’s project management skills, the higher the level of their operational excellence. (6) The higher the level of construction project manager’s people management skills, the higher the level of their operational excellence. (7) All the constructs of project management skills, only risks management skills and management skills are the significant predictors of the respondents’ level of operational excellence, implying that the higher the level of project management skills in terms of risks management and scope management skills, the higher the level of operational excellence of the respondents. To deliver the project successfully, the construction project managers should consistently demonstrate and balance the application of project management and people management since the area of focus of CPM in the project revolves in day to day managing of resources (material, manpower and equipment), solving problems, overcoming project challenges, dealing with changes in project requirements, communicating with stakeholders and satisfying the customer’s expectations. With these, the decision and approach of CPM would be solid and cohesive through collaboration with the project management team.