Abstract
Project management in the construction sector is a complex and uncertain process and companies tend to look for the lowest value in the procurement of services and materials. However, contractors do not share the necessary information with the contracted parties and thus give rise to the asymmetric information (AI) phenomenon. The aim of this study is to perform an analysis of the determining factors in the adoption of relational contracting (RC) in combination with Building Information Modelling (BIM) to reduce AI. The results of a questionnaire survey, which was e-mailed to 14 specialists with solid experience (over twenty years) and knowledge in construction projects, revealed that the probability of the AI phenomenon occurring in Portugal is very high, and its impact on construction projects is equally high. The results also show that RC in combination with the BIM methodology contributes very positively to the mitigation of AI problems in construction projects in Portugal. Approximately 85% of respondents consider that the government should seek to reduce AI in the public works sector through the use of RC and its combination with the BIM methodology in the Portuguese Public Contracts Code.
Highlights
Some authors explain project management (PM) as a methodology based on applying knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities in response to their specific requirements
In the selection of the population, it was taking into consideration the technicians with expertise in construction direction and management registered with the Portuguese Engineers Order that have participated in Building Information Modelling (BIM) based relational contracting (RC) projects, and the 50 largest companies in the building construction and built heritage sector in Portugal according to PORDATA, the Portuguese Database with the major companies in Portugal resulting into 14 specialists
The asymmetric information phenomenon is counterproductive in public works construction projects and it is found that in Portugal there is a high probability of asymmetric information occurring and having a strong impact on the sector
Summary
Some authors explain project management (PM) as a methodology based on applying knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities in response to their specific requirements. Most construction projects are subject to climate specificities and this only factor may involve uncertainties associated with the duration and productivity of activities in construction projects and can hinder their success (Acıkara et al, 2017). Xiang et al (2015) considers that PM in the construction sector is a complex and uncertain process: for example, when procuring a service or ordering a material, there is a tendency to use the same contracting methodology regardless of the project’s specific requirements. Some authors suggest that the main cause of these problems in the sector stems from the fact that contractors do not share the necessary information with the contracting parties regarding the construction project, preventing both parties from getting involved in an integrated manner and developing a close relationship (Ling et al, 2014; Xiang et al, 2015)
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