Managing conflicts in construction of public projects in Ghana: (a case study of selected building project in Ashanti Region)

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NOVEMBER, 2015
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Abstract
Building projects universally demand the contributions of several individuals involving the constructing team, the supervising team, and the client, with each person bringing to the fore their specialist knowledge required to successfully bring the project to completion. And all these individuals coming together for the purpose of bringing the project to fruition have different interest but a common objective of project execution. And when people of varying background come together as in the case of a project team, conflict is certainly not absent. As the members within the project coalition interrelate interest collides and conflicts result, which can have adverse effects on the project delivery, especially when it is not well managed. The research therefore sought to find the causes of these conflicts in the construction sector and the manner by which these conflicts are resolved. The research did use quantitative design in combination with a cross-sectional survey on construction firms that had registered with the assemblies of Kumasi, Asokore-Mampong and Ejisu-Juabeng. And using questionnaires, a total of 160 questionnaires were distributed but 152 were received and analyzed through the use of the Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). General causes of conflict according to the results predominantly create conflicts than the contract-related causes. Inadequate communication and contradicting instructions according to the results are the leading causes of conflict. The effects of conflict on project success per the findings include project delays, stays and ineffective construction and reduced productivity at site. The findings revealed, participants in the study prefer the use of collaborating and compromising styles in solving conflict on sites. Every project start and ends with communication, therefore communication is the life wire of all construction projects. And to cure the communication problem, the study suggests strategies like Team Meeting Discussions, Site Review Meetings, and Project Status Reporting platform.
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Building Technology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Science in Construction Management.
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