The Impact of Project Management Implementation On The Successful Completion of Projects in Construction
The Impact of Project Management Implementation On The Successful Completion of Projects in Construction
The Impact of Project Management Implementation On The Successful Completion of Projects in Construction
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doi: 10.18178/ijimt.2018.9.1.781 21
International Journal of Innovation, Management and Technology, Vol. 9, No. 1, February 2018
conclusion that the inception of modern project management concentrates on long-range customer satisfaction [22]. Such
was established approximately 40 years earlier than broadly a concept is an analogue to De Wit‟s (1988) [24] distinction
perceived. Project management is a newly developed between project success and project management success.
concept and thus, its literature is relatively young lacking in De Wit (1988) highlights that project success is measured
concepts and theoretical basis [12]. It can be however against the overall project objectives following project
argued that project management methodologies date back as completion.
far as 2550 BCE and that the Pyramids were delivered by
following an approach featuring a project charter and a TABLE I: LITERATURE SUMMARY OF PROJECT SUCCESS CRITERIA.
PARTIALLY (ADAPTED OF WESTHUIZEN, D. AND FITZGERALD E., 2005)
business justification, incorporated into a life cycle [15]
approach [1].
Projects are better designed to respond to expected
uncertainties [13], whereas project tasks demand proper
planning and may be more challenging to project teams,
Marchewka 2003
when compared to routine work. In addition, the PMBOK®
Wateridge 1998
Baccarini 1999
Thomsett 2002
Kerzner 2002
Guide (2000) points out that its project management
Booch 1996
mythology is only “…applicable to most projects most of
the time”. This leads to the questions “what” shall be used PROJECT SUCCESS CRITERIA
“when?” Most surprisingly, these questions remain
Quality of Project management
unanswered [14]. X X X
process
Project management methodologies are not designed to
Within time X X X X X X
be generic but applicable to all projects at any given time, as Within budget X X X X X X
they need to be adapted to individual project objectives, in Specified quality X X X X X X
order to achieve consistent project management success. Specified service quality X X X
Therefore, it appears that either PM methodologies are Project stakeholder satisfaction X X X X X
wrongly applied or project management does not directly User satisfaction X X X X X X
influence the success of projects.
Net benefits X X X X
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International Journal of Innovation, Management and Technology, Vol. 9, No. 1, February 2018
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International Journal of Innovation, Management and Technology, Vol. 9, No. 1, February 2018
The contemporary literature refers to project management VIII. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS — PROJECT SUCCESS
practices, as the combination of concepts, processes, tools Findings from the survey show that 86.3% of the clients
and techniques. Besner and Hobbs (2004) highlight the and 89.9% of contractors were satisfied with the work
difference of applying tools and techniques, and using completed on projects. Considering that one-third of the
generic concepts and procedures with the metaphor “An surveyed project managers failed to keep their projects
experienced cook can give details about his recipe, but it is within the iron triangle shows that stakeholder satisfaction is
really looking at him in the kitchen, using his tools…” [48]. perceived independently. Hence, this finding may indicate
The metaphor illustrates the importance of correct that project management success influences perceived
implementation of generally available tools and techniques, project success. As at the time of the survey, the majority
rather than generic concept and procedures, which are (78.4%) of the projects were still in execution – monitor and
partially also applicable in operational management. control phase, it is doubtful that the project product success
Although, the traditional iron triangle seems outdated, it influences the rating of the stakeholder satisfaction, a
is still the broadly agreed measure for project management finding which contradicts the observation of previous
success. The arguments, whether the project product success researchers [21]-[23], who widely agree that project success
influences project success are also associated with the is a combination of project management success and
macro and micro perspective. However, in the long run it is product success. Moreover, it appears that projects failing in
unlikely that a project is considered successful when the traditional measures may still satisfy stakeholders.
project's product encounters failure. Hence, product success Most interestingly, 42.9% of unsatisfied stakeholders are
is an essential part of project success [21]-[24]. Table II reporting their project being on time, 71.4% are within the
shows the ranking of project success factors appearing in the budget and 28.6% deliver the project as per contract terms
literature. and conditions. Demonstrating the iron triangle of Atkinson
does not necessarily fully serve as an appropriate success
measurement. None of the unsatisfied stakeholders work for
VII. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY a client organisation, whereas 50% of the respondents work
for a contractor. Although, the overall result illustrates
This research aimed for collecting hard facts. The
projects with satisfied stakeholders, the above finding aligns
literature review revealed interesting facts, supporting the with the reviewed project management literature. Nowadays,
conclusion that project management positively influences considering time, cost and quality, as primary success
project success. A project may have individual sets of measures appears insufficient to assess the success of a
success criteria and factors. Thus, it is recommended project. Therefore, as already suggested in the literature,
initiating studies on a global scale, for identifying a possible additional parameters shall also be considered for evaluating
generic set of project success parameters. project success. The survey findings also show that the
Quantitative data was collected in a survey via a web- majority of projects respondents working on are within the
based questionnaire, featuring 20 Questions sent to 142 planned time (66.7%), within the agreed budget (72.5%) and
selected project managers. Participants were selected based comply or exceed quality requirements (66.7%). The
on their background, geographical location and their analysis unambiguously demonstrates that around two thirds
employment position. The quality of data received, by of the surveyed projects operate within the iron triangle and
having more than 75% of the respondents occupying a achieved stakeholder satisfaction. These projects achieve the
managerial position, has achieved the aim of this survey. broadly agreed definition for project management success.
The questionnaire features closed and five point Likert scale In contrary, merely 47.8% of the respondents predict their
project successful completion and only 19.6% of
questions in combination with matrix ratings, based on
practitioners are confident in achieving project success.
findings from the literature review.
Based on the respondents‟ opinions, the adequate funding
For the framework, the following assumptions were made:
until project completion strongly influences the success of a
Successfully delivered projects utilize tools and
project. However, market or industry fluctuations, on a
techniques of project management practices. global scale, may have influenced such rating. Nevertheless,
Project failures have patterns related to methods
it is apparent that even global changes may influence an
adopted to the implementation of project management individual project success, a finding that consolidates the
tools and techniques. micro and macro perspective of project success.
Competent project managers have a strong command Nonetheless, a project does not operate in a vacuum.
of project management tools and techniques, relevant
to produce the project life cycle phase deliverables.
Thus, properly trained project managers have influence
on project success.
These assumptions are partially based on Turner and
Müller (2003) [13] conclusions that the certification of
project managers is essential for high performance.
Nevertheless, different projects have different success
criteria or success factors [28], [36], whereas recent research Fig. 1. Project success status.
[46] revealed that different nationalities and cultures
perceive project success differently. A. Beyond Stakeholder Satisfaction
Fig. 2 shows that, 19.6% of respondents replied with
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International Journal of Innovation, Management and Technology, Vol. 9, No. 1, February 2018
“Excellent quality – better than required.” Interestingly, 70% practitioners perceive that gaining competence can be
of these answers originate from Asia, mainly Singapore. professional certification process, which around 20% have
Although Ashley et al. (1987) [47] emphasised that success an affiliation to a professional project management
is only achieved with delivering “results much better than organisation. Such results indicate that practitionaers
expected” this does neither align with advanced quality perceive that gaining competence can be achieved without
management thinking, nor with good project management obtaining professional training or through professional
practices. Wang (2006) also highlights this phenomenon in certification process, which contradicts the literature. More
his research earlier. Chinese stakeholders rate the than three-quarters of participants occupy a manager
position, wherein 22.2% of the respondents are senior
importance of relationships over the iron triangle as a
project managers or project directors. The age range of the
measurement for project success. Also Shenhar et al. (1997)
participants is between 25 and 65 years, where the majority
[53] rank stakeholder satisfaction before time, cost and of participants (55.6%) have a bachelor‟s degree or higher,
quality. Such practice may not be recommended by some with only one-third of practitioners having less than five-
professional institutions and be coined as “gold plating”. A year project management experience. Nevertheless, the
project manager shall not deliver extras to customers and affiliation to internationally recognised Project Management
shall only deliver what is necessary to meet the project organizations reveals that most of the respondents do not
objectives. The response to this question would partially have any recognized project management training.
indicate that Asian stakeholders attempt to foster Therefore, based on the collected data one may conclude
relationships by going beyond the contractual agreed that specific project management training is not necessarily
obligations. Nevertheless, 47.1% of the participants deliver related to project success. The majority of participating
their projects as per contract terms and condition (see Fig. 2). project managers entered the project management
profession through experience rather than through a
professional certification process, a finding that contradicts
Turner and Müller‟s position in that the title “Project
Manager” shall be restricted to individuals, having obtained
professional certificates [13].
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International Journal of Innovation, Management and Technology, Vol. 9, No. 1, February 2018
an essential tool for performance measurement and control cost, time and quality criteria remain as the preferred
of projects [50]. Most interestingly, 16.7% do not use and method to measure projects‟ success it does not guarantee
16.7% rarely use a work breakdown structure (WBS). These, stakeholders‟ satisfaction.
in sum 33.4% of participants, rate effective project planning Project success is a perceived measure, irrespective of the
and control as the most important factor leading to project individual success criteria and factors. None of the surveyed
success, representing another contradiction in that the WBS projects indicate the achievement of project success, without
is of utmost important for performing project planning and utilizing project management tools and techniques.
control. Moreover, the respondents rank clear objectives and There exists a universal set of project success measures,
scope only on sixth rank of the project success factors. A applicable to all projects in the construction industry. This is
finding which partially aligns with the responses of EVA due to the fact that information collected originates from
and WBS in that it appears that contemporary project projects scattered over ten nations. The data features
practitioners perceive project planning and control as significant similarities representing a new insight whereas,
independent tool and technique, rather than integrated the literature suggests that individual projects have project
concept, leading to the assumption that practitioners do not specific success measures.
fully appreciate project management tools and techniques, Although, data indicates that the project practitioners do
indicating a lack of professional training of the surveyed not utilize project management tools and techniques
practitioners. perfectly, the vast majority of project managers implement
project management methodologies.
Project management practices and techniques are widely
used in successful projects and therefore, project
management positively influences project success. The
majority of surveyed projects are successful.
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Houston, TX: Newtown Square, Project Management Institute, 1998. A. Al-Hajj was born in Anout, Lebanon on 28
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management research: Trends, interpretations, and predictions,” PgCert, Tertiary Level Teaching, The Robert Gordon
Project Management Journal, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 5-18, 2002. University, Aberdeen, UK, 1997; Ph.D, construction
[32] D. L. Nguyen, S. Ogunlana, and D. T. Lan, “A study on project management and building economics, University of
success factors in large construction projects in Vietnam,” Dundee, Dundee, UK, 1992; M.Sc construction
Engineering Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 11, no. management, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK,
6, pp. 404-413, 2004. 1987; BEng civil engineering, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon,
[33] C. Scott-Young and Samson, “Project success and project team 1985; Assem has 25-year career spanning the UK, Africa and the MENA
human resource management: Evidence from capital projects in the region. He is currently the vice president for academic affairs and
process industries,” in Proc. the PMI Research Conference, London, development at Applied Science University in Bahrain. Prior to joining
2004. ASU, Assem worked as: academic head, director of studies, research,
[34] H. J. Thamhain, “Emerging project management techniques: A recruitment, project and programme director, lecturer and researcher and as
managerial assessment,” in Proc. Portland International Conference training consultant.
on Management of Engineering and Technology, 1999. Assem has more than 60 publications including: A. Al-Hajj and K.
[35] A. Al-Hajj and A. Sayers, “Project management performance in the Hamani, “Material Waste in the UAE Construction Industry: Main Causes
UAE construction industry,” in Proc. ASCE/CIB Conference, 2014. and Minimisation Practices”, International Journal of Architectural
[36] J. K. Pinto and D. P. Slevin, “Project success: Definitions and Engineering and Design Management, 7(4), 2011; M. Kishk, A. Al-Hajj, R.
measurement techniques,” Project Management Journal, vol. 19, no. Pollock, G. Aouad, N. Bakis and M. Sun, “Whole-Life Costing in
1, pp. 67-72, 1988. Construction - A State of The Art Review”, The RICS Research Paper
[37] C. Cash and R. Fox, “Elements of successful project management,” Series, 4 (18), 2003; A. Al-Hajj and R.M.W. Horner, “Modeling the
Journal of Systems Management, vol. 43, no. 9, pp. 10-14, 1992. Running Costs of Buildings”, Construction Management and Economics,
[38] M. Hatfield, “Managing to the corner cube: Three-dimensional 16(4), pp. 459-470, 1998; Assem‟s interest in research is in project
management in a three-dimensional world,” Project Management management particularly construction sustainability and lean applications.
Journal, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 13-20, 1995. Dr. Al-Hajj is a senior fellow of HEA, a fellow of CIOB, and AIQS. He
[39] D. Milosevic and L. Inman, “Impact of project management was selected by the FM Middle East magazine as one of the 50 most
standardization on project effectiveness,” Engineering Management influential professionals in the facilities management industry in the Middle
Journal, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 9-16, 2001. East in 2012 to 2014. He is the winner of MBM research and teaching
[40] S. Globerson and O. Zwikael, “The impact of the project manager on award at the AIQS Australia.
project management planning process,” Project Management Institute,
vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 58-64, 2002.
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