The relevance of EQ to construction project management education and practice: an investigative framework

Construction is a project-based industry and involves bringing different combinations of clients, designers, contractors and suppliers to work together for relatively short periods of time. The complexity and dynamism of industry's project-based background makes it one of the most challenging environments to manage people effectively and ensure that project and organisational goals are met. To successfully manage construction activities in such an environment requires good interaction between project participants. This, in turn, often demands high levels of Emotional Intelligence (EI) amongst project participants. EI has come to be viewed as an important factor in the management as well as an important predictor of one's ability to succeed on the job. However, despite burgeoning research into EI and management, few empirical studies have been taken under the construction context and so little is known of whether those that work in the industry are fully equipped with the emotional skills required by the construction industry. This paper presents a critical review of the EI literature and its relationship with construction project management performance. It suggests directions for future research that will elucidate understanding of its influence on project manager performance.