AN EXPLORATION OF THE POTENTIAL USE OF A WEB-BASED PROJECT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO MANAGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS BY ROYAL COMMISSION OF JUBAIL

The invention of the Internet based technologies and systems has facilitated collaborative workingenvironment in the construction industry by generating new opportunities for collaboration, coordination and information exchange among firms that work on construction projects. Webbased project management systems (WPMS S) allow project team members to communicate and exchange project information in a fast, cost-effective, and efficient manner. It enhances project communication, documentation and control, and overturns the way in which a construction project team traditionally conducts business. This paper investigates the potential use of WPMS systems for managing construction projects by Royal Commission for Jubail (RCJ). Aquestionnaire survey followed by interviews were conducted on RCJ project management teamsto find out their views about present management problems and how far would WPMS help tosort it out. The researchers discuss how present project management methods and processesshould be changed to – on one hand- improve the whole project management system and – on theother hand- to grasp potential benefits of the proposed use of WBMS and avoid possible barriersthat would affect the implementation of WPMS.