Project Management in the Chinese Construction Industry: Six-Case Study
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 135, Issue 10
Abstract
Originating from the West, project management was introduced into China after the country’s economic reforms in the 1980’s and has since spread quickly throughout the whole country, particularly in the construction industry. However, despite the wide adoption of project management practices by construction organizations and the growing recognition of the importance of project management as an enabler of organizational success, empirical studies on project management in the context of the Chinese construction industry have been inadequate. This paper presents the results of an empirical study of six Chinese construction organizations in order to come to a more comprehensive and sophisticated understanding of project management practices in the Chinese construction industry. The findings revealed: (1) a good appreciation of the role of projects and project management and satisfaction with current project management practices; (2) 11 key aspects of project management implementation; (3) 12 resultant value and benefits; and (4) five aspects of the main challenges facing the organizations. Meanwhile, variations in project management practices and the resultant organizational value were identified, first between the three owner- and the three contractor-case study organizations, then between the two construction contractor organizations and the one design contractor organization.
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Acknowledgments
Many thanks are given to the Project Management Institute of the U.S.A. (PMI) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. NNSFC50539130 and NNSFC70671058) for providing financial support. Special thanks go to the six case study organizations and the many interviewees and survey participants who gave their time generously and freely.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 135 • Issue 10 • October 2009
Pages: 1016 - 1026
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 3, 2008
Accepted: Mar 18, 2009
Published online: Apr 30, 2009
Published in print: Oct 2009
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