Prospective Skills for Modern Project Manager in Construction Projects - Dissertation Example

Download file to see previous pages They also face non-construction-related challenges such as government regulations, legal issues, socio-political pressures, and environmental concerns. It is thus important to find out how we can raise the efficiency of project managers to enable them in managing projects effectively and avoiding delays in the implementation of the project plan and turn to avoid delay penalties. This research thus sets out to identify the skills lacking in project managers that fail to avoid delays in construction projects. The research question is thus – What are the skills needed by modern-day project managers to avoid delay penalties in construction projects? The findings of this study will help in providing an insight into the skills needed by project managers to avoid delay penalties in construction projects. The research involved a questionnaire survey of 100 project managers in Kuwait. The survey findings showed that lack of experience, leadership skills, project planning skills, communication skills, and knowledge related to contracts and project management are the major skills lacking in project managers. This calls for a more integrated approach towards developing their skills. Recommendations have been discussed. The research suffers from a small sample size, lack of specificity to Kuwait, and bias due to no tests of significance.
According to reports by Reuter, major construction projects in Kuwait have been stalled for years due to “political wrangling and bureaucratic inertia”, putting Kuwait in a state of “underdeveloped infrastructure” and diminished foreign investments (Reuters, 2013). The construction sector in Kuwait has faced repeated delays over the past years, especially in the case of its key infrastructure projects (“Kuwait construction sector to continue growth”, 2013). However, until 2015, Kuwait is poised for an upsurge in the growth of its construction market. Reports by the Kuwait Finance House suggest that the overall value of the work done will increase to $3.5 billion (“Kuwait construction sector to continue growth”, 2013).
Construction work in the State of Kuwait, especially during the past decade, has become regionally noticeable and remarkable. The laws, regulations, and strategies governing construction works have also undergone modifications. It is worth mentioning that the state of Kuwait has developed a five-year plan dedicated to the renovation of the old urban design of Kuwait City (Figures 1, 2). Many large-scale projects especially high-rise buildings with modern and complex styles have been launched and developed since then (Figures 3 and 4).
Construction delays remain a major cause of concern for the Kuwait construction industry. A major proportion of the building activity in Kuwait involves residential projects. Many studies such as those by Koushki and Kartam (2004) and Al Tabtabai (2002) have investigated the causes of delays in both residential and commercial construction projects in Kuwait. While Koushki and Kartam placed importance on the impact of construction material availability on time delays, Al Tabtabai analyzed and ranked several causes of delays in housing and building construction projects initiated by governmental agencies. ...Download file to see next pages Read More