Underlying Knowledge of Construction Management Consultants in China
Publication: Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 142, Issue 2
Abstract
To meet clients’ and owners’ multidimensional and changing requirements, construction management consultants (CMCs) ought to possess a diverse and dynamic knowledge structure. In China, although the population of CMCs has grown to the point of their being indispensable in the industry, their knowledge structure has not been explored explicitly. The study presented in this paper investigated this by first conducting a comprehensive content analysis of the curricula of the highest ranked construction management university courses in China. This was followed by in-depth interviews with experts, resulting in the identification of 22 main knowledge areas that can be grouped into technology, economy, management, and law. A questionnaire survey was then conducted among 115 experienced CMCs to evaluate the current level of knowledge in these areas together with their importance and need for improvement. The main findings demonstrate the significance of the identified 22 knowledge areas, and they also need substantial improvement in practice. The research has practical implications for China’s CMCs to develop necessary knowledge and the extent to which they need to be improved to provide a better quality of services in the future.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Chongqing University for financing this research project under the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, No. 106112013CDJSK030006.
References
Ahadzie, D. K., Proverbs, D. G., and Olomolaiye, P. (2008). “Towards developing competency-based measures for construction project managers: Should contextual behaviours be distinguished from task behaviours?” Int. J. Proj. Manage., 26(6), 631–645.
Ajmal, M., Helo, P., and Kekäle, T. (2010). “Critical factors for knowledge management in project business.” J. Knowl. Manage., 14(1), 156–168.
Alavi, M., and Leidner, D. E. (2001). “Review: Knowledge management and knowledge management systems: Conceptual foundations and research issues.” MIS Q., 25(1), 107–136.
Association for Project Management. (2006). APM body of knowledge, 5th Ed., High Wycombe, U.K.
Blayse, A. M., and Manley, K. (2004). “Key influences on construction innovation.” Constr. Innov. Inf. Process Manage., 4(3), 143–154.
Bontis, N., Dragonetti, N. C., Jacobsen, K., and Roos, G. (1999). “The knowledge toolbox: A review of the tools available to measure and manage intangible resources.” Eur. Manage. J., 17(4), 391–402.
Ceran, T., and Dorman, A. A. (1995). “The complete project manager.” J. Archit. Eng., 67–72.
Cheng, M. I., Dainty, A. R., and Moore, D. R. (2005). “What makes a good project manager?” Human Resour. Manage. J., 15(1), 25–37.
Chinyio, E. A., Olomolaiye, P. O., and Corbett, P. (1998). “An evaluation of the project needs of UK building clients.” Int. J. Proj. Manage., 16(6), 385–391.
Cirincione, C. (1999). “Analysis of variance.” Handbook of research methods in public administration, G. J. Miller and M. L. Whicker, eds., Marcel Dekker, New York, 227–247.
Cleland, D. I. (1995). “Leadership and the project-management body of knowledge.” Int. J. Proj. Manage., 13(2), 83–88.
Dogbegah, R., Owusu-Manu, D., and Omoteso, K. (2011). “A principal component analysis of project management competencies for the Ghanaian construction industry.” Aust. J. Constr. Econ. Build., 11(1), 26–40.
Dubois, A., and Gadde, L. E. (2000). “Supply strategy and network effects—Purchasing behaviour in the construction industry.” Eur. J. Purchasing Supply Manage., 6(3–4), 207–215.
Du Plessis, C. (2007). “A strategic framework for sustainable construction in developing countries.” Constr. Manage. Econ., 25(1), 67–76.
Edum-Fotwe, F., and McCaffer, R. (2000). “Developing project management competency: Perspectives from the construction industry.” Int. J. Proj. Manage., 18(2), 111–124.
El-Sabaa, S. (2001). “The skills and career path of an effective project manager.” Int. J. Proj. Manage., 19(1), 1–7.
Harmon, K. M. (2003). “Resolution of construction disputes: A review of current methodologies.” Leadersh. Manage. Eng., 187–201.
Hill, R. C., and Bowen, P. A. (1997). “Sustainable construction: Principles and a framework for attainment.” Constr. Manage. Econ., 15(3), 223–239.
Hwang, B. G., and Ng, W. J. (2013). “Project management knowledge and skills for green construction: Overcoming challenges.” Int. J. Proj. Manage., 31(2), 272–284.
Jewell, C., Flanagan, R., and Lu, W. (2014). “The dilemma of scope and scale for construction professional service firms.” Constr. Manage. Econ., 32(5), 473–486.
Kendall, M. G. (1980). Multivariate analysis, Macmillan, New York.
Kivrak, S., Arslan, G., Dikmen, I., and Birgonul, M. T. (2008). “Capturing knowledge in construction projects: Knowledge platform for contractors.” J. Manage. Eng., 87–95.
Lan, P., and Jackson, J. (2001). “Current characteristics of the main stakeholders in the Chinese construction industry.” Int. J. Constr. Marketing, 1(1), 1–18.
Lilliefors, H. W. (1967). “On the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for normality with mean and variance unknown.” J. Am. Stat. Assoc., 62(318), 399–402.
Lindahl, G., and Ryd, N. (2007). “Clients’ goals and the construction project management process.” Facilities, 25(3/4), 147–156.
Ling, F. Y., and Gui, Y. (2009). “Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats: Case study of consulting firms in Shenzhen, China.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 628–636.
Ling, F. Y., and Low, S. P. (2007). “Legal risks faced by foreign architectural, engineering, and construction firms in China.” J. Prof. Issues Eng. Educ. Pract., 238–245.
Ling, F. Y. Y., Ibbs, C. W., and Kumaraswamy, M. M. (2005). “Enablers that help foreign architectural, engineering, and construction firms win construction contracts in China.” J. Manage. Eng., 63–69.
Liu, G. W., Shen, Q. P., Li, H., and Shen, L. Y. (2004). “Factors constraining the development of professional project management in China’s construction industry.” Int. J. Proj. Manage., 22(3), 203–211.
Liu, J., Li, B., Lin, B., and Nguyen, V. (2007). “Key issues and challenges of risk management and insurance in China’s construction industry: An empirical study.” Ind. Manage. Data Syst., 107(3), 382–396.
Liu, X. (2012). “How to manage the knowledge resources in engineering consulting enterprise.” Constr. Econ., 1, 16–19 (in Chinese).
Love, P. E., Holt, G. D., and Li, H. (2002). “Triangulation in construction management research.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage., 9(4), 294–303.
Lu, S. L., and Sexton, M. (2007). “Innovation in small construction knowledge-intensive professional service firms: A case study of an architectural practice.” Constr. Manage. Econ., 24(12), 1269–1282.
Miles, I. (2005). “Knowledge intensive business services: Prospects and policies.” Foresight, 7(6), 39–63.
Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. (2012). “Construction supervision statistical bulletin of China.” 〈http://www.mohurd.gov.cn/zcfg/jsbwj_0/jsbwjjzsc/201309/t20130902_214916.html〉 (Nov. 10, 2013).
Muller, E., and Doloreux, D. (2009). “What we should know about knowledge-intensive business services.” Technol. Soc., 31(1), 64–72.
NACE. (2008). “NACE Rev. 2—Statistical classification of economic activities in the European community.” European Communities, Luxembourg.
National Bureau of Statistics of China. (2006). China statistical yearbook, China Statistics Press, Beijing.
National Bureau of Statistics of China. (2007). China statistical yearbook, China Statistics Press, Beijing.
National Bureau of Statistics of China. (2008). China statistical yearbook, China Statistics Press, Beijing.
National Bureau of Statistics of China. (2009). China statistical yearbook, China Statistics Press, Beijing.
National Bureau of Statistics of China. (2010). China statistical yearbook, China Statistics Press, Beijing.
National Bureau of Statistics of China. (2011). China statistical yearbook, China Statistics Press, Beijing.
National Bureau of Statistics of China. (2012). China statistical yearbook, China Statistics Press, Beijing.
National Bureau of Statistics of China. (2013). China statistical yearbook, China Statistics Press, Beijing.
Ng, S. T., and Chow, L. K. (2004). “Evaluating engineering consultants’ general capabilities during the pre-selection process: A Hong Kong study.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage., 11(3), 150–158.
Nitithamyong, P., and Skibniewski, M. J. (2004). “Web-based construction project management systems: How to make them successful?” Autom. Constr., 13(4), 491–506.
Nitithamyong, P., and Tan, Z. (2007). “Determinants for effective performance of external project management consultants in Malaysia.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage., 14(5), 463–478.
Nonaka, I. (1991). “The knowledge-creating company.” Harv. Bus. Rev., 69(6), 96–104.
Odusami, K. (2002). “Perceptions of construction professionals concerning important skills of effective project leaders.” J. Manage. Eng., 61–67.
Ogunlana, S., Siddiqui, Z., Yisa, S., and Olomolaiye, P. (2002). “Factors and procedures used in matching project managers to construction projects in Bangkok.” Int. J. Proj. Manage., 20(5), 385–400.
Prahalad, C. K., and Hamel, G. (1990). “The core competence of the corporation.” Harv. Bus. Rev., 68(3), 79–91.
Project Management Institute. (2013). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK guide), Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
Robinson, H. S., Carrillo, P. M., Anumba, C. J., and Al-Ghassani, A. M. (2005). “Knowledge management practices in large construction organisations.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage., 12(5), 431–445.
Russell, J. S., Jaselskis, E. J., and Lawrence, S. P. (1997). “Continuous assessment of project performance.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 64–71.
Shi, L. G., Ye, K. H., Lu, W. S., and Hu, X. (2014). “Improving the competence of construction management consultants to underpin sustainable construction in China.” Habitat Int., 41, 236–242.
Smith, E. A. (2001). “The role of tacit and explicit knowledge in the workplace.” J. Knowl. Manage., 5(4), 311–321.
Styles, C., Patterson, P. G., and La, V. Q. (2005). “Executive insights: Exporting services to southeast Asia: Lessons from Australian knowledge-based service exporters.” J. Int. Marketing, 13(4), 104–128.
Tabachnick, B. G., and Fidell, L. S. (2001). Using multivariate statistics, Harper Collins, New York.
Turner, J. R., and Müller, R. (2003). “On the nature of the project as a temporary organization.” Int. J. Proj. Manage., 21(1), 1–8.
Wirth, I., and Tryloff, D. E. (1995). “Preliminary comparison of six efforts to document the project-management body of knowledge.” Int. J. Proj. Manage., 13(2), 109–118.
Woo, J. H., Clayton, M. J., Johnson, R. E., Flores, B. E., and Ellis, C. (2004). “Dynamic knowledge map: Reusing experts’ tacit knowledge in the AEC industry.” Autom. Constr., 13(2), 203–207.
Wyatt, J. C. (2001). “Management of explicit and tacit knowledge.” J. R. Soc. Med., 94(1), 6–9.
Xia, B., and Chan, A. P. (2012). “Measuring complexity for building projects: A delphi study.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage., 19(1), 7–24.
Zhang, X. P. (1998). “Analysis of difference of home and abroad engineering consultant character.” Proj. Manage., 3, 18–19 (in Chinese).
Zhao, Z. Y., Zuo, J., and Zillante, G. (2011). “Situation and competitiveness of foreign project management consultancy enterprises in China.” J. Manage. Eng., 200–209.
Zou, P. X., Zhang, G., and Wang, J. (2007). “Understanding the key risks in construction projects in China.” Int. J. Proj. Manage., 25(6), 601–614.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 142 • Issue 2 • April 2016
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 8, 2014
Accepted: Aug 4, 2015
Published online: Oct 19, 2015
Discussion open until: Mar 19, 2016
Published in print: Apr 1, 2016
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.