Contractor-led critical design management factors in high-rise building projects involving multinational design teams

High-rise building projects (HRPs) are comprised of various complex design elements. The involvement of a multinational design team increases design-related issues for contractors, which must be managed during the construction stage. Thus, contractors need to understand how appropriate design management can positively affect project performance and their profit. Identification of critical design management factors (CDMFs) can provide appropriate decision-making support for contractors, including how limited resources including money, manpower, and equipment can be allocated throughout the construction stage. This study identifies and ranks the CDMFs for HRPs designed by multinational design teams. Through a questionnaire survey in South Korea, 21 design management factors were acknowledged among 40 initial factors. Then, using factor analysis, these 21 identified CDMFs were categorized into four groups: interface management, design information, production stage, and risk contribution. Based on results, this study identifies general and regional features of design management. Because these CDMFs are chosen from the contractor's perspective, if they are used to make appropriate decisions, the overall project performance should be increased during the construction phases. (C) 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.