Effects of cultural assimilation on the performance of a construction project – evidence from UAE

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of the national culture on the performance of a construction project in the UAE. This study benchmarks reason for the success or failure of construction projects from the cultural perspective. Design/methodology/approach – This study takes a case study approach, using the qualitative research method. Data were collected through participant observation and project records as part of the lessons learned and the data were analysed using the coding procedure of grounded theory. Re-confirmation and cross-checking interviews were also conducted to confirm the correctness of the coding. The qualitative data were expressed in quantitative terms to signify statistically the effect of the national culture on the construction project. In this way, the research methodology employed triangulation in its data analysis. Findings – This study found differences in the national culture of the Chinese construction project management teams in overseas construction projects in the UAE. The level of uncertainty and long-term orientation contributed to the success of one of the construction projects under scrutiny and the failure of the other. Research limitations/implications – The study was limited to two construction projects in the UAE. Further research into construction projects is required to validate whether the national culture is generally an element to consider in overseas construction projects. Practical implications – The research study provides reasons for the success and failure of the two projects from the perspective of differences in national culture. Understanding the cultural differences in international construction projects should help to resolve project issues before these need to be terminated. The termination of a project has economic and social implications for all the stakeholders. Originality/value – No research study was found to have identified the national culture dimensions of overseas construction project management teams in the UAE. The longitudinal study helped to understand cultural assimilation during the execution of construction projects in the UAE.