The main purpose of this research project was to bridge the existing knowledge gap inthe empirical identification and understanding of how conflict occurs between keyproject parties within Saudi Arabia’s public sector building projects. Such conflict hasbecome an increasingly endemic feature within the last 20 years, and this researchproject provides a contribution in knowledge terms which will help to overcome theobstacles and challenges impeding growth and development in the field. This wasachieved by conducting an investigation to provide the theoretical background aboutthe antecedents of conflict, and presenting a number of project management suggestions to avoid or minimise.Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were utilised in this study. Thequalitative research data was obtained from 30 in-depth semi-structured interviewswith four types of key project party, namely, project owners, consultants, contractors,and sub-contractors. This was followed by two separate questionnaire surveys. The firstwas a means of validating conflict data obtained from the interviews, and the secondwas used to test Project Management - PM data, . In this part of the study, 672questionnaires were sent to various people engaged in the Saudi Arabian constructionindustry. The response rate was 46.1% (n = 310 ).In terms of the interview data, a total of 349 data items were derived and from these data items, 30 general themes emerged concerning various causes of conflict and the latent conditions of conflict, providing descriptions of what and how conflicts arise within Saudi Arabian public building projects. From these general themes, 31 recommendations for strategic project management processes are made, with the intention of preventing or at least minimising conflict. The quantitative survey conducted to test these project management strategies (recommendations) revealed that all of them were supported. The study subsequently produced a cyclical framework of conflict avoidance, derived from the research methodology used in the study, and this is outlined to enable project building participants, whether individuals, groups, or organisations, to improve their project management strategy from project to project.The research recommends that: generally, certain project management strategiesshould be implemented in the earlier phases of a project in order to promote conflictavoidance behaviours or at least to effect a reduction in these. Furthermore, strategicactions are required to deal with the latent condition-related issues in respect of building projects in the Saudi Arabian context. In this case, reforms to current practices are required to improve the performance within the building industry. It is also recommended that further research be undertaken to explore other latent conditions of conflict and conflicts themselves in order to develop additional project management strategies aimed at managing the causes of conflict.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:574315 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Alshehri, Abdullah Mohammed |
| Contributors | Fenn, Peter |
| Publisher | University of Manchester |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/conflict-in-architectural-projects--diagnosis-and-avoidancea-study-based-on-saudi-arabian-construction-industry(795de607-2709-4c24-9373-7762ce303c0a).html |
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