Criticality of project knowledge and experience in the delivery of construction projects
Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology
ISSN: 1726-0531
Article publication date: 1 February 2021
Issue publication date: 12 April 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Poor project knowledge and inadequate experience are frequently linked to construction time-cost overruns. This paper aims to expound on the criticality of project knowledge and experience in the successful delivery of projects in the construction industry.
Design/methodology/approach
Following a detailed literature review, a quantitative positivist approach with a questionnaire survey involving industry professionals is used to appraise the 30 prevalent causes of time-cost overruns according to frequency, effectiveness and importance indices. The data are then subjected to Spearman’s rank correlation tests and exploratory factor analysis.
Findings
Using the importance index, which assimilates both frequency and effectiveness indices, the criticality of knowledge and experience in the overall context is seen as fundamental for addressing the contractor’s faulty planning and scheduling, construction mistakes and defective work, site management and supervision, delayed/slow decision-making, incomplete drawings and design documents and change/variation orders. Spearman’s rank correlation tests indicate a good consensus of perceptions among the key parties involved. Next, an exploratory factor analysis uncovers six underlying knowledge-based factors affecting construction performance, relating to inaccurate resource estimates, design changes, resource shortages, lack of experience, incompetence and mistakes and defects.
Originality/value
The study draws out the repercussions of the hitherto limited research into the deficiencies in knowledge and experience in undertaking construction projects to enhance performance using knowledge management functions.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by UTAR Research Fund (UTARRF) (Project Number: IPSR/RMC/UTARRF/2019-C2/J01), supported by UTAR Global Research Network Program (International Collaborative Partner) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China Grant Nos. 71390523 and 71501142. The authors would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive and insightful comments, which have helped improve the quality of this paper.
Citation
Yap, J.B.H., Lim, B.L., Skitmore, M. and Gray, J. (2022), "Criticality of project knowledge and experience in the delivery of construction projects", Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. 20 No. 3, pp. 800-822. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-10-2020-0413
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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