Electrical project management implementation manual

Abstract

In 2007, ELECTRI International – The Foundation for Electrical Construction, the research arm of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), funded a research project to develop a model electrical project management process that could be used by NECA members to improve their management practices. The study critically evaluated the relationship between project management and project performance. As part of the research process, in-depth project-specific information was collected on the management effort and project outcome for several “successful” and “less-thansuccessful” projects. This data collection effort culminated in a detailed analysis of the project management practices of these two groups to identify clear differences between “successful” and “less-than-successful” projects. Ultimately, 25 randomly-selected companies from 12 states agreed to participate in an interview for the research project. Data was collected on 50 “successful” and “less-than-successful” projects. The management activities that were performed on the successful projects were used to develop the model Electrical Project Management Process. The model process was fashioned after those projects that performed good management and achieved a successful outcome. As such, the model management process incorporated the best management practices in the electrical construction industry. The management processes of the successful and less-than-successful projects were compared to the model process, and, ultimately, it was discovered that those projects that implemented processes that more closely matched the model resulted in more successful performance.