Project manager skills for improving project performance

Abstract

Project managers have multifaceted responsibilities that significantly affect project success. Previous research has identified four skills of effective project managers, namely, conceptual, human, political, and technical skills, along with their 16 skill components. The aim of this paper is to determine skill components that influence time, cost, and quality performance in construction projects. Data were collected from 107 project managers using a questionnaire survey method. The analysis results show that interpersonal influence has positive relationship with project time performance. Project cost performance is influenced by four skill components, namely, emotional intelligence, interpersonal skill, apparent sincerity, and budgeting. Lastly, project quality performance is affected by eight skill components, which include visioning, emotional intelligence, interpersonal skill, transformational leadership, interpersonal influence, apparent sincerity, quality management, and document and contract administration. Construction organisations may use the finding as a guideline to appoint project managers with the ‘right’ skill profile or to focus their human resource development on skills that are important for project success.