Teamworking, perceptions and communication within construction projects

This thesis describes the research undertaken into the softer issues of project management. In particular it illustrates the importance of recognising that professionals viewing the same event from different perspectives can ascribe different meanings to the event. The need to recognise the perceptions of the stakeholders is considered to be an important contribution to project success. The overall aim is to determine the factors that contribute to a successful project team and how they interact. The research focused on the client, whose ideas need to be developed, the perceptions of the parties involved; the way they interact as a team and methods of communication within the team. In order to understood these various aspects, seven basic objectives of the research have been defined. The research started by trying to understand why design and build was becoming a popular method of procurement. Partial investigation led to the conclusion that it was not the choice of procurement that was an issue; rather it was client dissatisfaction and the way in which the project team operated. It therefore became necessary to understand the client's basic requirements and how the professionals within the project team perceived these. The research then investigated the roles within the project team and how the professionals within the team interacted. The main conclusion reached in this research is that there is a need for the construction professional's to develop a better understanding of the client's requirements and to understand how the other professionals interact within a team. The research also established that there are key roles within the project team that enable it to function. The method of communicating varies but it requires a feedback mechanism to remove the ambiguities created by the 'noise' factors. The roles of the professions are changing and the institutional barriers should be reduced if not removed so that there is uniformity within the industry. This will enable the client to develop a better relationship with the project team and clarify the ambiguity that presently exists.