COMPETENCIES OF SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS IN LAO PDR

This research aimed to explore the essential competencies of successful construction project managers in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). It used constructivism for knowledge claim along with application of phenomenological strategies of inquiry. The author collected data from 3 groups of key informants: 1) construction project managers of construction companies 2) entrepreneurs, executives, project owners and construction project investors, 3) executives and board of directors of construction association. They were chosen by the author using purposive sampling method, while the interview form was the research tool. The data were analyzed and verified by means of content analysis and triangulation, respectively. Besides, the collected data were also interpreted to ensure their reliability. The study results showed that competencies of successful construction project managers in Lao PDR could be divided into two categories: 1) core competencies including knowledge (9 sub-competencies), skills/abilities (9 sub-competencies) and attributes (8 subcompetencies); and 2) successful competencies comprising knowledge (5 subcompetencies), skills/abilities (23 sub-competencies) and attributes (7 subcompetencies). In this regard, those competencies could effectively be developed into a competency model of successful construction project managers in Lao PDR.