'Major projects being let down by poor communication'

Major infrastructure and development projects are being hampered by poor and unplanned communication strategies, research by project communication company GCI has revealed.

Forty-eight per cent of respondents from a cross section of the industry felt that communication had not been addressed effectively on major projects, despite 90% believing communication is vital to success.

In addition, just 20% believed that project teams' communications, either for marketing or to avoid misunderstandings, were improving.

Feedback also highlighted that the problem was being intensified with a growing complexity in networks of stakeholders that project teams need to interact with.

Rod Cartwright, director at GCI, said: "The failure by many professionals to grasp the importance of developing a suitable communication strategy leaves many development and infrastructure projects open to unnecessary criticism.

"In recent years we have seen a number of high-profile developments come under unjustified and prolonged public criticism."