The characteristics of coordination process in construction projects

Modern construction projects are no longer confined to a single discipline but are generally multidisciplinary. An independency relationship between a large number of stakeholders required to be managed in construction projects procurement and execution that need continuous coordination. Coordination function is to harmonize the different activities, so that the determined objectives can be reached effectively. However, the study of coordination characteristics are the way to assess the status of coordination in construction projects. Through the literatures, the most important characteristics of coordination process were identified. Quantitative approach was used to investigate them through questionnaire. The data were analyzed by means of statistical analysis and Chi-square test. The analysis showed that, 45.5 % of the respondents mentioned to a moderate level of knowledge about coordination, however 44.6 % were commonly applied coordination culture. Nevertheless, about 60% believed that, ability and willingness are the main obstacle of coordination application. At the same time, 75% considered coordination effect as significantly improve the project performance. In the future, 70 % of the respondents will always apply coordination consideration from their personal motivation. The results of Chi-square show a significant dependent relationship between the position and organization function variables and the eight coordination characteristics.

[1]  X. Xue,et al.  Coordination mechanisms for construction supply chain management in the Internet environment , 2007 .

[2]  Kevin Crowston,et al.  A Coordination Theory Approach to Organizational Process Design , 1997 .

[3]  David N Ford The dynamics of project management : an investigation of the impacts of projects process and coordination on performance , 1995 .

[4]  Mohammed Fadhil Dulaimi,et al.  The challenge of customer orientation in the construction industry , 2005 .

[5]  Peter E.D. Love,et al.  Concurrent engineering : a strategy for procuring construction projects , 1998 .

[6]  Mildred Golden Pryor,et al.  Henri Fayol, practitioner and theoretician – revered and reviled , 2010 .

[7]  Kumar Neeraj Jha,et al.  Critical determinants of project coordination , 2006 .

[8]  Alexander Löfgren,et al.  EDITOR: B-C Björk , 2006 .

[9]  Trudy Ann Cameron,et al.  Efficient Estimation Methods for "Closed-ended' Contingent Valuation Surveys , 1987 .

[10]  C. Gibson,et al.  Team Implicit Coordination Processes: A Team Knowledge–Based Approach , 2008 .

[11]  Richard Olsson,et al.  Subcontract coordination in construction , 1998 .

[12]  Wenpin Tsai Social Structure of Coopetition Within a Multiunit Organization: Coordination, Competition, and Intraorganizational Knowledge Sharing , 2002 .

[13]  H. Lilliefors On the Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test for Normality with Mean and Variance Unknown , 1967 .

[14]  Akintola Akintoye,et al.  An analysis of success factors and benefits of partnering in construction , 2000 .

[15]  Kevin Crowston,et al.  What is coordination theory and how can it help design cooperative work systems? , 1990, CSCW '90.

[16]  Peter Jofriet,et al.  The process of control , 2005 .

[17]  Liaquat Hossain,et al.  Communications and coordination in construction projects , 2009 .

[18]  Mary J. Meixell,et al.  Activity structures in a project-based environment: a coordination theory perspective , 2006, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.

[19]  Xiaodong Li,et al.  An agent-based framework for supply chain coordination in construction , 2005 .

[20]  H Meltzer,et al.  The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: a pilot study on the validity of the self-report version , 2003, International review of psychiatry.

[21]  George Ofori,et al.  Enhancing integration and innovation in construction , 2002 .

[22]  Aminah Md Yusof,et al.  A Conceptual Study of Key Barriers in Construction Project Coordination , 2012 .

[23]  Yuhong Wang COORDINATION ISSUES IN CHINESE LARGE BUILDING PROJECTS , 2000 .

[24]  C. Williams,et al.  The Choice of the Number and Width of Classes for the Chi-Square Test of Goodness of Fit , 1950 .

[25]  Syed M. Ahmed,et al.  Construction Coordination Activities: What Is Important and What Consumes Time , 2001 .

[26]  T. Ollendick Reliability and validity of the Revised Fear Surgery Schedule for Children (FSSC-R). , 1983, Behaviour research and therapy.

[27]  R. Bagby,et al.  The 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. III. Reliability and factorial validity in a community population. , 2003, Journal of psychosomatic research.

[28]  K. Clark Project scope and project performance: the effect of parts strategy and supplier involvement on product development , 1989 .