The role of information management in project management success: Narratives from entrepreneurs operating within the South African construction industry
Open Access
- 23 January 2017
- journal article
- Published by AOSIS in SA Journal of Information Management
- Vol. 19 (1), 9 pages
- https://doi.org/10.4102/sajim.v19i1.811
Abstract
Background: The South African construction industry is noted to be one of the most popular industries heavily dependent on projects. Calls exist for research that ascertains not just how entrepreneurs act as project managers but also the evaluation of project success and the role information management plays in all this.Objectives: The aim of this study was to understand the views and experiences of entrepreneurs in how: (1) project management success is conceptualised, and (2) the role that information management played to this within a South African construction industry space. Method: The study adopts a qualitative research approach using semi-structured interviews to generate narratives and themes around how: (1) project management success is conceptualised, and (2) the role that information management played to this. A sample of 15 entrepreneurs working within the construction industry was used for this study. Results: Based on the analysis of the narratives of the 15 entrepreneurs, project success was conceptualised mainly along three themes. Firstly, project success was about keeping the customer happy. Secondly, project success in the construction industry meant meeting the set targets, especially those of a financial nature. Finally, project success was about channelling internal synergies to realise external gains. Further, the 15 entrepreneurs espoused one main sub-theme around the role of information management to this conceptualisation of project success. This posits the role of information management to be a currency in effective decision-making. Conclusion: The study concluded by focusing on the implications and recommendations based on the identified themes.Keywords
This publication has 43 references indexed in Scilit:
- What Do Entrepreneurs Actually Do? An Observational Study of Entrepreneurs’ Everyday Behavior in the Start–Up and Growth StagesEntrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 2012
- From “analytic nuisance” to interactional resource: Re-viewing small stories within interviews in a mixed methods studyJournal of Pragmatics, 2011
- Innovation strategy by firms: do innovative firms grow more?International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2011
- Alliance portfolio diversity and firm performanceStrategic Management Journal, 2010
- Resourcing challenges for post-disaster housing reconstruction: a comparative analysisBuilding Research & Information, 2010
- Emotional Intelligence and Its Relationship to Transformational Leadership and Key Project Manager CompetencesProject Management Journal, 2010
- From Interview Transcript to Interpretive Story: Part 1—Viewing the Transcript through Multiple LensesField Methods, 2000
- Quality of Management and Quality of Stakeholder RelationsBusiness & Society, 1997
- Towards Utility in Reviews of Multivocal LiteraturesReview of Educational Research, 1991
- A resource‐based view of the firmStrategic Management Journal, 1984