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Alignment of project management with business strategy in construction: evidence from the Turkish contractors

Budayan, C; Dikmen, I; Birgonul, MT

Authors

C Budayan

I Dikmen

MT Birgonul



Abstract

The importance of fit between an organization's implementation of project management (PM), and its business level strategy is emphasized in the literature. However, there are a limited number of studies investigating the relationship between business level strategy and implementation of PM in the construction industry. This paper aligns one of the business strategies, namely differentiation, with the PM process. A framework representing differentiation in the construction industry is proposed in this study. Structural equation modelling (SEM) is used to validate the relationship between differentiation and the PM process. The results show that a relationship between differentiation strategy and PM exists. The two types of differentiation are revealed, namely “product variety and speed-related differentiation” (PSD) and “quality and image-related differentiation” (QID). The companies trying to differentiate based on PSD should focus on cost, time and quality management. Change management and project planning are identified as important drivers of differentiation based on PSD. On the other hand, the companies trying to differentiate on QID should consider health, safety and environmental issues as well as quality. Companies should also manage their resources effectively to support the PM process that in turn leads to successful differentiation. Companies can utilize the research findings as a guideline while formulating their differentiation strategies.

Citation

Budayan, C., Dikmen, I., & Birgonul, M. (2015). Alignment of project management with business strategy in construction: evidence from the Turkish contractors. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 21(1), 94-106. https://doi.org/10.3846/13923730.2013.802737

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2015
Deposit Date Nov 4, 2016
Journal Journal of Civil Engineering and Management
Print ISSN 1392-3730
Publisher Taylor and Francis
Volume 21
Issue 1
Pages 94-106
DOI https://doi.org/10.3846/13923730.2013.802737
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.3846/13923730.2013.802737


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