The relative importance of Project Management knowledge areas in the South African Construction Industry
Date
2012-10-08
Authors
Spolidoro, Dino
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Abstract
It is generally accepted that the knowledge and practices described by the
Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) is applicable to most
projects most of the time, and there is general consensus about their value and
worth.
Currently the world is experiencing economic instability. The South African
government is therefore looking to improve growth for the country. One of the
leading ways to improve growth for South Africa is through large scale
investment in infrastructural development. The performance of the South
African construction industry on carrying out these complex infrastructure
projects will have a direct impact on the outcome of this growth strategy.
This research report embarked to determine the relative importance of the nine
knowledge areas described by the PMBOK to the South African Construction
Industry. The research has been primarily quantitative in nature, using both
descriptive and inferential statistical techniques with data gathered from a
questionnaire.
The key findings of the research reveal that the knowledge areas of cost, time
and quality were regarded as relatively most important, with project
communication being the knowledge area of least relative importance. It is
recommended that a shift in attention is directed away from the narrow focus of
these three knowledge areas and a more holistic approach to project
management is taken, with particular attention to communication as technology
continues to play a more dominant role in the modern work enviroment
Description
MBA thesis - WBS
Keywords
Project management, Construction industry