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Communication and Co-operation on Projects Between the Project Owner As Principal and the Project Manager as Agent

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  • Turner, J. Rodney
  • Müller, Ralf

Abstract

Research shows the best project performance is obtained when there is high collaboration between client and project manager, and medium levels of structure, when the project manager and project owner work together in partnership, and the manager is empowered. Unfortunately, this is not how it happens on many projects. There is mistrust, even conflict, between owner and manager, and the owner sets tight constraints within which the manager must work. Project owners mouth partnership and empowerment, but implement conflict and tight control. In this paper, we offer the principal-agency relationship between client and project manager as one reason for this. However, we offer communication between the client and project manager as a way of reducing this problem. We suggest what communication the client needs from the project manager, and what communication the project manager needs from the client to minimize the impact of the principal-agency relationship. We report the results of an international study into communication needs on projects. We establish that the communication needs of project participants are best served by a mixture of formal and informal communication, and of written and verbal communication. We also establish that communication and emotion are closely linked on projects.

Suggested Citation

  • Turner, J. Rodney & Müller, Ralf, 2004. "Communication and Co-operation on Projects Between the Project Owner As Principal and the Project Manager as Agent," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 22(3), pages 327-336, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eurman:v:22:y:2004:i:3:p:327-336
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    Cited by:

    1. Qusay Qahtan Khaleefah & Firas Abdulrahman Rashid & Ammare Yasser Al Ajoe & Mohammad Abdel Hamed Ali AL-Husien, 2014. "The Foundations of Project Success Work for Small and Medium Businesses Enterprises," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 4(12), pages 127-137, December.
    2. Sangeeta Shah Bharadwaj & Kul Bhushan C. Saxena, 2006. "Impacting the Processes of Global Software Teams: A Communication Technology Perspective," Vision, , vol. 10(4), pages 63-75, October.
    3. Hanisch, Bastian & Wald, Andreas, 2014. "Effects of complexity on the success of temporary organizations: Relationship quality and transparency as substitutes for formal coordination mechanisms," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 197-213.
    4. LE BRAS, Maxime, 2014. "How to Deal with Project Risk Management Effectively in Your Organization," Holistic Marketing Management Journal, Holistic Marketing Management, vol. 4(1), pages 26-34, March.
    5. Emmi Tervala & Teemu Laine & Tuomas Korhonen & Petri Suomala, 2017. "The role of financial control in new product development: empirical insights into project managers’ experiences," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 28(1), pages 81-106, February.
    6. Lecoeuvre, Laurence & Turner, Rodney & Kuppelwieser, Volker G., 2021. "Customer experience in the B2B area: The impact of age-related impressions," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    7. Marek Kasperek & Monika Odlanicka-Poczobutt, 2021. "The Etiology of Formation and Reacting Way to a Change in the Supply Chain," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2), pages 915-947.
    8. Berends, Kees, 2007. "Engineering and construction projects for oil and gas processing facilities: Contracting, uncertainty and the economics of information," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(8), pages 4260-4270, August.
    9. Tobias Onshuus Malvik & Agnar Johansen & Olav Torp & Nils O. E. Olsson, 2021. "Evaluation of Target Value Delivery and Opportunity Management as Complementary Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-19, July.
    10. Cezar-Petre SIMION & Stefan Catalin POPA, 2017. "Evolution Of Research In Project Management. An Analysis Of The Research Results Published In The Period 1999-2017," Proceedings of the INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 11(1), pages 956-964, November.
    11. Sinyagin, Yury (Синягин, Юрий) & Sheburakov, I.B. (Шебураков, И.Б.), 2017. "Mechanisms and Tools for the Formation of Effective Project Teams in the Executive Authorities of the Subjects of the Russian Federation [Механизмы И Инструменты Формирования Эффективных Проектных ," Working Papers 061704, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration.
    12. Gabriel Castelblanco & Jose Guevara & Harrison Mesa & Diego Flores, 2020. "Risk Allocation in Unsolicited and Solicited Road Public-Private Partnerships: Sustainability and Management Implications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-28, June.
    13. Ceric Anita & Ivic Ivona, 2021. "Network analysis of interconnections between theoretical concepts associated with principal–agent theory concerning construction projects," Organization, Technology and Management in Construction, Sciendo, vol. 13(2), pages 2450-2464, January.
    14. Masoumeh Ghazinejad & Bassam A. Hussein & Youcef J. -T. Zidane, 2018. "Impact of Trust, Commitment, and Openness on Research Project Performance: Case Study in a Research Institute," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-11, January.

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