Abstract:
The adverse effects of management related problems affecting productivity in construction projects
can be reduced by implementing best management practices that are suitable for a specific project
type. Previous studies identified the best practices for infrastructure and industrial projects. However,
these practices could not directly be used for building projects as the management practices might
vary from project to project and from country to country. Moreover, a little research has been
conducted on what the best practices might be in the context of building projects in Victoria, Australia.
Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with nineteen experienced professionals in the
construction industry and forty-seven context specific best practices for building projects such as long
lead materials identification, machinery productivity analysis, short interval planning, incentive
programs, dynamic site layout plan and safety policy are identified. The study revealed that some best
practices that are applicable to infrastructure and industrial projects are not suitable for building
projects. Therefore, implementation of the best practices identified in other contexts could not improve
productivity in building projects and principal contractors involved in building construction should
adopt context-specific practices to enhance the productivity of their projects.
