Application Of Social Media As Project Communication Tools For Construction Project: A Snapshot Review

Abstract

Effective communication in construction project is indeed an evergreen challenges since this industry plagued with fragmentation and silo thinking. Evolution of communication tools has made Social Media (SM) applications in project communications inevitable. Many studies has proved SM has benefited other industries yet, the application of social media in construction industry still low. Therefore, this paper aims to provide a snapshot review on the application of social media in construction project. To expound, it investigates the possibility of deploying social media throughout construction project life cycles, analysed its level of application and the perceived benefits of using it. To achieve these objectives, a quantitative data from ten construction companies within Klang Valley were collected through questionnaires and analysed.  The result of data reveals that many construction organisations utilised WhatsApp as communication tools due to the richness media, ability to improved internal and external as well as improving collaboration. It is found that most construction project yet to explore the full capability of social media as project communication tools. This data enable construction player and academia to identify suitability and reliability of social media to be deployed in construction project to enhance values of project communication for managing construction project.