Unlocking project success: The crucial role of interpersonal skills in project management

Abstract

In today’s rapidly evolving world, marked by technological advancements, digitalization, and evolving environmental and social requirements, the construction industry is grappling with increasing project complexity. This complexity, in turn, impacts performance. Technical competences alone no longer ensure project success; instead, organizations with superior interpersonal skills are better positioned for success. Measures are being taken to enhance interpersonal skills in Norway’s construction industry. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of these measures and to explore potential variations in the need for key interpersonal skills among primary project partners and across different project phases. Data were collected through a literature review and semi-structured interviews conducted with selected informants from two large Statsbygg projects. The findings of this study underscore the crucial role of interpersonal skills in project success, a role that becomes more significant as projects increase in size and complexity. Despite the acknowledged importance of these skills within the Norwegian construction industry, measures to enhance them have not yielded the expected success. This study first outlines current measures to improve interpersonal skills, including the integration of collaboration in turnkey contracts, promotion of teamwork, effective meeting facilitation, onboarding processes, and co-location. It then identifies obstacles to these initiatives, such as the perceived difficulty in acquiring these skills, budget and time constraints, and uncertainties about the initiatives’ effectiveness. The study also explores potential differences in the need for key interpersonal skills among project partners, uncovering a shared need for skills like collaboration, communication, and problem-solving, with strategic thinking being an exception, primarily linked to the client’s role in the project’s early stage. While the research is focused on a specific segment of the Norwegian construction industry, it provides valuable, broadly applicable insights. Future research could strengthen these findings by expanding the scope to include more case projects and interviewees.