CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Construction Industry

Construction Industry Analysis

Introduction

The construction industry is prone to a number of problems and conflicts arising from failures in effective communication. The various cross communications involved in this industry include demand supply end communications. At the demand side, investors, users and representatives need to communicate with the architects, contractors and advisors at the demand side. The greater the quality of communication initiated and transmitted to each of these ends, the greater will be the productivity.

Formal and Informal Communication

In construction, formal communication is implemented through the procurement routes and documentation and the necessary contractual forms. These are imposed on teams and managers. Information communication delays during the design stage may result in 30% delay in project completion (Dainty and et.al, 2006, Pp.34). This explains why contractors avoid threats associated to liquidation by adopting more aggressive production activities despite inadequate information. Ineffective design collaboration may not only result in delays but also in lessened control over processes and execution of good management practices.

In construction companies, formal communication may be termed as the skeleton while informal communication acts as the central nervous system (Dainty and et.al, 2006, Pp 154). Informal communication includes the sharing of collective cognition, actions and reactions of the stakeholders. The construction industry deals with high changes pertaining to environment and market. The need to effectively shape and formulate an effectively communicable strategy is therefore a must. Informal communication will help managers and workers to communicate and share ideas easily and will result in lesser staff absenteeism and work ownership.

The communication channels for both formal and informal communication must be robust. The formal communication routes should ensure definite protocols concerning the roles of various players. Different business units at the functional levels will make use of more informal communication channels to facilitate the flow of information. The organisation however must ensure proper documentation and its communication containing the formal responsibilities of various groups, networks and how these networks will commute. This includes standard Performa's and emails for interdepartmental and cross-organisational communication.

At the project level formal paths are implemented more religiously including the subsequent document distribution.

Productivity of labour may be controlled in a better manner if the communication is improved not only at the individual level but also the managerial and contractual level. Open communication channels will allow room for innovation and skill sharing. Under the supervision of good expertise, the labours will be motivated to seek and to communicate ingenious technical solutions. Each construction process encompasses a number of stakeholders and communication among these during the planning, design and implementation stages is crucial.

Problems in Communication

Often, the teams assigned the tasks of completing a specific project are put together for a limited period and then dispersed later once the project has been successfully completed. This alone emerges as a barrier to communication for there is not enough time allowed to exchange valuable information. Timing is a critical concern in construction projects. Detailed control and coordination among the project participants must be encouraged by holding periodic meetings ...