IT enhanced communication protocols for building project management by small and medium enterprises in the Indian construction industry

The Research has developed protocols for effective adoption of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) for Building Project Management by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Indian construction industry. Project Managers are required to facilitate the integration of work of all the agencies and project team organizations are geographically separated beyond national boundaries or in context of large countries like India, within the national boundaries. In doing so, there is a need to make better use of information and knowledge generated in all stages of development. The key to project information management is the information flow associated with inter-organizational communication and the effectiveness of the project manager to communicate with and feedback to the rest of the project team throughout the project life cycle. Better communication can be achieved by using computer tools for effective data processing and information management, through Information Communication Technologies (ICT). As the majority of the construction organizations are Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the communication management research is required to address management and communication processes adopted by SMEs. These issues can be addressed by global research, but also require clear understanding of the management and communication processes followed by SMEs of each distinct regional area or country. The research was conducted through a sequential mixed methods approach focusing on collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data in the study in a sequential manner. To develop a balance check mechanism, the research was divided into four phases: Interpretive analysis of perceived benefits of use of ICT for building project management, conducted by Interpretive Structural Modeling analysis; Questionnaire survey data collection and empirical analysis of data including Structural Equation Modeling analysis (quantitative method); Semi-structured interview survey data collection and analysis including Data Envelopment Analysis (quantitative and qualitative method) and case studies analysis conducted by SAP-LAP analysis (qualitative method) leading to synthesis of the results of the four phases. The purpose of this four-phase, sequential mixed methods study was to start with the pragmatic assumptions; obtain statistical, quantitative results from a broad sample of organizations to analyze or study research variables at industry and organization levels and then follow up with a few organizations and projects to study the research variables at the level of the organization and people. Synthesis of the knowledge enhancement from the literature survey, data analysis results and their interpretation led to the proposed 'IT Enhanced Communication Protocols for Building Project Management'. The protocols are proposed as a 'Strategic Model for Enhancing ICT Diffusion in Building Projects'. The model is based on Everett Rogers's 'Diffusions of innovations theory' and is formulated at three levels of study i.e industry, organization and people. It is discussed as a generic framework of five stages of Roger's 'Diffusions of innovations theory' i.e Knowledge, Persuasion, Decision, Implementation and Confirmation.