Improving Project Performance through Partnering and Emotional Intelligence

AbstractThe construction industry represents around 5% of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). The scores of baby boomers beginning to retire in the engineering and construction industries are taking a lifetime of institutional knowledge with them. This scenario results in a relatively limited supply of experienced personnel. Partnering is one potential solution to overcome this problem. This paper makes the case that advancing the emotional intelligence (EI) of project participants can improve the partnering effort and ultimately result in increased project performance. This improved performance, to some extent, mitigates the effects of the loss of institutional knowledge. This paper introduces a people-based model that holistically illustrates the components and activities necessary to take a construction project from inception to successful completion. The authors also evaluated contractors who have partnered with the Virginia DOT (VDOT) and found that managers of successful projects exhibited high E...