Journal of Engineering, Project, and Production Management (May 2023)

Drivers and Barriers of Using Web-Based Asynchronous Communication Tools for Monitoring Construction Projects

  • Abdulkadir Shehu Rasheed,
  • Ranti Taibat Adebiyi,
  • Ganiyu Amuda-Yusuf,
  • Suleiman Suleiman

DOI
https://doi.org/10.32738/JEPPM-2023-0010
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 2
pp. 93 – 103

Abstract

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Construction project monitoring (CPM) is becoming more expensive and error-prone for clients with multi-location 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.

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