Communication, coordination, decision-making and knowledge-sharing: a case study in construction management
Journal of Knowledge Management
ISSN: 1367-3270
Article publication date: 31 January 2019
Issue publication date: 28 November 2019
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine four key management processes, namely, communication, coordination, decision-making and knowledge-sharing, to determine how these impact on transportation infrastructure project success. The context for this study is the construction of a major highway in the United Arab Emirates.
Design/methodology/approach
Multiple sources of data are used in this case study that include the following: examination of various documents relating to the project in question; interviews with ten key stakeholders involved with the construction of the project; observations made during the site visit and interviews conducted with four site engineers; a focus group conducted with six key stakeholders involved in the project; and finally interviews conducted with the Minister of Public Works and the Director-General of the Ministry of Public Works. Analysis was conducted using NVivo.
Findings
Identification and involvement of key stakeholders, particularly in the early phases of a construction project, is found to be highly critical. Managers must develop detailed understanding of stakeholders’ influence in terms of their legitimacy, power and urgency in achieving effectiveness of the management processes.
Originality/value
The study highlights how different stakeholders influence communication, coordination, decision-making and knowledge-sharing at different stages of the construction project. Hence, understanding stakeholder’s level of legitimacy, power and urgency across the different stages of a project is highly critical.
Keywords
Citation
Al Nahyan, M.T., Sohal, A., Hawas, Y. and Fildes, B. (2019), "Communication, coordination, decision-making and knowledge-sharing: a case study in construction management", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 23 No. 9, pp. 1764-1781. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-08-2018-0503
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited