Coordination mechanisms during the construction project life cycle

Using the rehabilitation work in Lebanon as a case study, reorganizational structures and processes based on interdependencies and the coordination mechanisms in different phases of the project life cycle are addressed. The situation in Beirut forced the contractors to work in an environment with time and variable constraints, an unstable political and environmental situation, and a frustratingly high amount of employee conflict. The first thing dealt with was the identification of the appropriate organizational structure; functional, project, or matrix. Although no organizational structures work in all situations, the key factors of the project should be identified so as to provide a basis for selecting the appropriate one. With multi-project systems such as this one, interdependencies must also be identified. The three major types are: pooled, sequential, and reciprocal. Appropriate coordination mechanisms are recommended based on the interdependencies.