TY - JOUR
T1 - Project control system (PCS) implementation in engineering and construction projects
T2 - an empirical study in Saudi’s petroleum and chemical industry
AU - Jawad, Sahar
AU - Ledwith, Ann
AU - Khan, Rashid
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, Sahar Jawad, Ann Ledwith and Rashid Khan.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Purpose: There is growing recognition that effective project control systems (PCS) are critical to the success of projects. The relationship between the individual elements of PCS and successfully achieving project objectives has yet to be explored. This research investigates the enablers and barriers that influence the elements of PCS success and drive project objectives. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts a mixed approach of descriptive analysis and regression models to explore the impact of six PCS elements on project outcomes. Petroleum and chemical projects in Saudi Arabia were selected as a case study to validate the research model. Findings: Data from a survey of 400 project managers in Saudi’s petroleum and chemical industry reveal that successful PCS are the key to achieving all project outcomes, but they are particularly critical for meeting project cost objectives. Project Governance was identified as the most important of the six PCS elements for meeting project objectives. A lack of standard processes emerged as the most significant barrier to achieving effective project governance, while having skilled and experienced project team members was the most significant enabler for implementing earned value. Practical implications: The study offers a direction for implementing and developing PCS as a strategic tool and focuses on the PCS elements that can improve project outcomes. Originality/value: This research contributes to project management knowledge and differs from previous attempts in two ways. Firstly, it investigates the elements of PCS that are critical to achieving project scope, schedule and cost objectives; secondly, enablers and barriers of PCS success are examined to see how they influence each element independently.
AB - Purpose: There is growing recognition that effective project control systems (PCS) are critical to the success of projects. The relationship between the individual elements of PCS and successfully achieving project objectives has yet to be explored. This research investigates the enablers and barriers that influence the elements of PCS success and drive project objectives. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts a mixed approach of descriptive analysis and regression models to explore the impact of six PCS elements on project outcomes. Petroleum and chemical projects in Saudi Arabia were selected as a case study to validate the research model. Findings: Data from a survey of 400 project managers in Saudi’s petroleum and chemical industry reveal that successful PCS are the key to achieving all project outcomes, but they are particularly critical for meeting project cost objectives. Project Governance was identified as the most important of the six PCS elements for meeting project objectives. A lack of standard processes emerged as the most significant barrier to achieving effective project governance, while having skilled and experienced project team members was the most significant enabler for implementing earned value. Practical implications: The study offers a direction for implementing and developing PCS as a strategic tool and focuses on the PCS elements that can improve project outcomes. Originality/value: This research contributes to project management knowledge and differs from previous attempts in two ways. Firstly, it investigates the elements of PCS that are critical to achieving project scope, schedule and cost objectives; secondly, enablers and barriers of PCS success are examined to see how they influence each element independently.
KW - Barriers
KW - Construction
KW - Enablers
KW - Engineering
KW - Maturity
KW - Project control systems
KW - Project success
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85132566795&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/ECAM-02-2022-0114
DO - 10.1108/ECAM-02-2022-0114
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85132566795
SN - 0969-9988
VL - 31
SP - 181
EP - 207
JO - Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
JF - Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
IS - 13
ER -