Since 2016, when one of the most ambitious projects in the world, Vision 2030, was announced, the Saudi Arabian construction industry has been in the spotlight. In 2023, project awards are expected to reach a record-high value of $57 billion, according to a new analysis by JLL on the KSA construction market. Meanwhile, MEED Projects forecast the total value of projects awarded in KSA between 2021 and 2025 to reach $569bn, more than 35% of the entire MENA region.
However, the overcapacity and inflated pricing caused by headwinds brought on by the unpredictability of the global economy continue to put pressure on the building sector. Over the past year, there seems to have been a decrease in supply chain interruptions and shipping goods price increases. However, demand for trained personnel and price swings remain major global concerns in the building industry.
To maximize delivery efficiencies for successful outcomes, embracing innovative project management techniques is essential now. Although clients and projects can differ, they typically have one thing in common: finishing the assignment on schedule, within budget, and, at the very least, to the requisite quality.
In today’s ever-more complicated environment, the following six project management trends are considered essential for project success are as follow:
Adoption Of Technology Is Accelerating
Since the development of the crane, there haven’t been many productivity improvements in the construction sector, which has essentially remained unchanged for decades. However, the COVID-19 epidemic has brought the need for improvement into sharper focus and has hastened it. As a result, there has been a tremendous rise in the use of AI and automation solutions for project management. It has caused the industry to reach an inflection point.
Predictive analytics are also becoming more common due to the rising usage of robotics and automation, which also places a higher emphasis on sustainability and safety. Because of this, project managers in the construction sector will need to change to stay current.
Four categories, including digital collaboration, scanning, safety/wearables, and Building Information Modeling/Computer-Aided Design (BIM/CAD), were named in JLL’s “The State of Construction Tech 2020” study as having a “high impact” on construction technology.
Post-pandemic, there has been a noticeable rise in the Middle East’s usage of technology in the real estate development sector. Real-time surveillance of the progress of the construction project is being done using scanning technology and digital surveying instruments. Utilizing integrated solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT), building management systems (BMS), and integrated facility management (IFM), as well as understanding data from intelligent building systems, is increasingly becoming commonplace.
Improved communication with team members, clients, and stakeholders results from the use of technology to plan, carry out, and manage every part of a project. It gives more precise and trustworthy data while also assisting in maintaining the project budget and schedule. As a result, risks are reduced, and successful completion is ensured, allowing project managers to act more quickly and with greater knowledge.
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A Stronger Focus On Change Management
In order to effectively complete projects, project managers must be proactive adopters of changes and quick thinkers of strategy modifications in the face of disruption. This is because persistent global macroeconomic issues are affecting all organizations. Real-time data, team member feedback, regular review, and assessment of the success of change management in order to identify gaps or areas for improvement are all necessary for making quick and more accurate judgments.
Incorporating A Hybrid Project Management Methodology
Project management cannot be approached in a “one size fits all” manner since no two projects are the same. It has led to a growth in the use of hybrid project management, which combines various methodologies – often a blend of classic critical path or waterfall and agile methods – for improved flexibility in ensuring project success.
A combination of various project management techniques can also be included in the hybrid method. More stability, engagement, and efficiency can be achieved when a team includes members with diverse backgrounds, worldviews, and working methods. In order to better respond to shifting market conditions at various stages of the project lifecycle, it is no longer necessary to adhere to a single methodology but rather to bring particular attributes together and identify the best possible mix of methodologies for each project.
Emotional Intelligence And Soft Skill’s Effects
Emotional intelligence is crucial for project management success because it entails managing people. While analytical and technical skills were traditionally prioritized, this emphasis has gradually been displaced by the growth of project management software. In order to effectively manage project teams and stakeholders, project managers’ attention is increasingly more on their capacity for interpersonal connection and empathy. The success of a project team greatly depends on soft skills, including effective communication, negotiation, dispute resolution, team building, time management, and the ability to make the best decisions.
The Implementation Of Hybrid Procurement
Hybrid procurement strategies, such as client/delivery partnerships, are being used to sustain and control the cost of mega projects in the face of rising expenses and supply chains under increased pressure. Hybrid procurement blends flexible, distributed purchasing with centralized compliance and control in an effort to maximize value and efficiency in a transaction.
Other procurement avenues, such as the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) procurement process, should be investigated. ECI makes it possible to analyze a project’s constructability more accurately and gives project delivery innovators a greater chance to be considered early on before decisions are taken. Public-private partnerships are one such approach that should be properly examined, evaluated, and taken into consideration on a case-by-case basis. But each of the methods above calls for a great degree of confidence.
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Increasing Focus On The Value Of PMO
In challenging economic times and unpredictable markets, the Project Management Office (PMO) plays a crucial role. In difficult circumstances where quick decision-making is essential, it can aid organizations in navigating them.
One of the key responsibilities of the PMO is to guarantee that projects are in line with the organization’s long-term objectives and that its actions are always valuable additions to the organization. It is in addition to supporting, overseeing, and supervising project management.
The tendency over the past several years has been for many firms to use an interim PMO while developing their internal capabilities. It can be successful, provided we remember to record and distribute lessons learned and best practice tools while we continue to develop our systems and adopt technology.
In conclusion, the delivery of a variety of giga projects supporting the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision offers the opportunity to transform the project management industry globally, particularly in KSA. It is because of the combination of higher construction standards, technological advancements, and new ways to manage projects.
The building industry and transformational projects in Saudi Arabia are helping to reshape the country’s future and are giving it the chance to export local knowledge abroad to a new level. For project managers ready to adjust and embrace the rapid speed of change, the upcoming years will be an exciting period.
We at Dynamic Staffing Services, a hiring company that supplies qualified workers for projects in Saudi Arabia, know how important it is to stay up to date on changing project management practices in the country’s construction sector. The six trends we have explored in this blog are all reshaping the industry and providing new opportunities for growth and success.
Here at Dynamic Staffing Services, we’re dedicated to being on the cutting edge and giving our clients the qualified workforce they require to thrive in this dynamic environment. We are committed to supporting our clients in achieving their objectives and prospering in the Saudi construction sector, whether it means utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) in recruitment or keeping abreast of the most recent developments in project management.
If you are an employer looking to hire the industry’s best talents, we at Dynamic Staffing Services can help you. Employers have been turning to DSS for their employment needs since our inception in 1977.
If you are interested, please contact us at +91-11-40410000 or enquiry@dss-hr.com. Also, you can sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest updates on new jobs and market trends.
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