Investigation of the relationship between the communication barrier, the experience, and project delay among project teams in a private residential project: A PLS-SEM technique

• Main Authors: Abd Aziz, Norazlin, Mohd Rahim, Faizul Azli, Aziz, Nur Mardhiyah
• Format: Article
• Published: Massey University 2022
• Subjects: NA Architecture
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/44122/

Communication issues have become a prevalent topic of conversation today. These issues are to blame for the slow progress in the construction industry and other sectors. Communication issues have become more severe since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Project delay is one of the most severe problems associated with communication issues in the construction industry. Although there have been many studies on the causes of project delays, there have been few on communication. Communication is the foundation of all relationships, as it can positively and negatively influence the bond between individuals. A comprehensive comprehension of communication processes and procedures must be a top priority for the organization to ensure that messages can be conveyed effectively and that intended actions are carried out. Due to other factors, such as the experience of the team members themselves, some communication processes may be disrupted, and messages may not be conveyed effectively. However, research into the role of experience as a mediator between communication barriers and project delay has not yet been conducted. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the relationship between communication barriers and project delays, which are mediated by the experience of project teams. In Selangor, 215 project teams were surveyed to determine the relationship between project delay, barriers to communication enhancement, and expertise. It was hypothesized that the experience of the project team would mediate the relationship between barriers to communication enhancement and project delay. First, a Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis revealed that the experience of project teams significantly and favorably reflects the relationship between barriers to communication enhancement and project delay. Experience substantially mediates the relationship between improvement barriers and project delay; bar-> exp-> pd (0.121, t = 2.39, p0.05). Therefore, it can be concluded that the experience of the project team members is crucial for overcoming the communication barriers that cause project delays. © 2022, Massey University. All rights reserved.