Study of the Effects of Communication Management on Infrastructure Projects in Jamaica

DOI

10.2991/isbcd-18.2018.90How to use a DOI?

Keywords

communication management; effects of communication; infrastructure projects in Jamaica

Abstract

Project Professionals require the transfer of relevant and appropriate information to the correct persons at all stages of a project in order to produce a structure as per specifications, on time and within budget to meet the clients’ needs. Hence, the use of an applicable technique for information transfer and communication channels for infrastructural problem solving.So as to completely understand communication within the Jamaican building sector/industry, particularly communication on Infrastructure Projects, this study aims at ascertaining the effects of communication management on Infrastructure Project delivery in Jamaica regarding quality, cost overruns and time. A quantitative approach was utilized by administering questionnaires as data collection would yield more results leading to a greater number of participants. A sample size of one hundred and forty specialists involved in infrastructure projects was obtained. Thereby, the findings could be generalized and applied to other locations. The primary data was analyzed with respect to theoretical data gathered. The existing communication process was examined through questionnaire survey where Relative Importance Index (RII), Frequency Index (FI) and IBM SPSS 23 were used for data analysis. This study recognized that there is a high level of appreciation regarding the importance of communication management on Infrastructure Projects in Jamaica. There are numerous recognized communication channels within the building sector especially between Grades 1-2 contractors, Project Managers, Civil Engineers, Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Structural, Mechanical and Electrical Engineers. However, difficulties still exist regarding effective and efficient communication management. This comprises of the following: Poor listeners, Poor leadership, Imprecise communication objectives, Vague channels of communication, Unsuccessful reporting system, Ineffectual communication between specialist involved in the project, Labeling or Stereotyping and Linguistic complications.Lastly, this study acknowledged that ineffective communication management negatively impacted projects, resulting in delays, cost overrun and abandonment. However, it is also observed that effective communication management positively influence the functioning of infrastructure project professionals in the Jamaican context.Hence, prior to the implementation of any infrastructure project, clearly established and effective communication management structures alongside management structure is of utmost importance and needs to be scheduled by infrastructure project professionals. This will result in the improvement of communication and effective implementation of infrastructure projects.The skills for an effective communication management regarding infrastructure projects are making decision and solving problems, listening, meetings, motivation, team development building, management of conflict, explaining and writing.

Copyright

© 2018, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.

Open Access

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Parham Sean
AU  - Yan Li
PY  - 2018/10
DA  - 2018/10
TI  - Study of the Effects of Communication Management on Infrastructure Projects in Jamaica
BT  - Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on Asian B&R Conference on International Business Cooperation (ISBCD 2018)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 451
EP  - 459
SN  - 2352-5428
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/isbcd-18.2018.90
DO  - 10.2991/isbcd-18.2018.90
ID  - Sean2018/10
ER  -