Drivers and barriers of using web-based asynchronous communication tools for monitoring construction projects
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Date
2023-01-01
Journal Title
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Publisher
Journal of Engineering, Project and Production Management, Published by Sciendo, De Gruyter, Poland.
Abstract
Construction project monitoring (CPM) is becoming more expensive and error-prone for clients with multilocation
projects and consultants. The persistent problem of late decisions that occur on-site, mostly reported after
significant time has elapsed further reduces monitoring efficiency. This study examines drivers and barriers to the use of
Web-based asynchronous communication tools (WACT) for CPM in the Construction Industry. Copies of structured
questionnaires were administered to 485 construction professionals on active construction sites comprising construction
managers, architects, quantity surveyors, and engineers in Lagos and Abuja who are involved in CPM and 256 (53%) were
returned. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) extracted 5 drivers and 4 barriers to the use of WACT for CPM. Factors were
ranked using mean and standard deviation. The degree of agreement between the two domains was compared using the
Kendall coefficient of agreement. Results show that project monitoring efficiency (PME) factors ranked highest amongst
drivers for use of WACT for CPM. Other drivers, that equally ranked high, are project monitoring cost (PMC) and project
monitoring time (PMT) factors. Construction industry culture (CIC) factors ranked highest as a barrier with organisational
personnel (OP) and technology adoption (TA) factors equally of significant rank. The Study identified latent drivers and
barriers to the use of WACT for CPM. Results also revealed construction professionals are willing to use WACT for CPM
but are skeptical about its seamless use to take over the traditional monitoring methods. It is recommended that client
agencies that fund multi-location projects like the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) or Tertiary
Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in Nigeria should develop models for the use of WACT for CPM. Similarly, consulting
firms can reduce overhead on travel expenses and improve monitoring efficiency by hosting such tools on their projects.
Description
Keywords
Asynchronous communication, construction project monitoring, construction professionals, consulting firms, web-based asynchronous communication tools.