Information exchange in construction design phase: a case study using Social Network Analysis

Abstract

Effective information exchange contributes greatly to the success of a project. However, so far when mentioning this topic, people have still been uncertain and confused about its advantages. A uniform method to visualise this theme should be established so that existing problems can be exposed and hence remedies will be suggested towards the transformation of nature and structure of information exchange. This paper applies Social Network Analysis techniques to study information exchange practices in design consulting projects through a case study. On that basis, the present study assesses the cohesiveness of the network, measuring the role and position of actors. Overall, the cohesion in the overall network structure was average, the collaboration was not extensive. There were still some actors on the edge of the network with weak links. The key player in the network was surprisingly the Coordinator. The information path was fairly long and there was a risk of being distorted when passing through transit nodes. The findings of this research have considerable managerial implications. The prospect of being able to do SNA serves as a continuous impulse for future research in the field of construction management and project management in Vietnam.