Lost in transmission: uncovering communication barriers in construction through the contractor’s lens

The complexity of construction project development often leads to communication breakdowns, significantly contributing to project failures and underperformance. Despite numerous studies highlighting communication challenges, ineffective communication remains a persistent issue in Malaysia and globally. This study explores communication barriers from the contractor’s perspective and uncovers their underlying dimensions. Through a comprehensive literature review, 20 communication barriers were identified and prioritized via a survey questionnaire involving 122 Malaysian construction professionals. The analysis revealed five critical barriers: ineffective communication techniques, frequent contract changes, lack of mutual respect and trust, slow information flow and unethical behaviour. Kruskal–Wallis testing further indicated significant differences in contractors’ perceptions of communication barriers across working experience groups, suggesting that professional maturity and role responsibilities shape communication challenges. Factor analysis further identified five principal dimensions driving these barriers: the unique characteristics of the construction industry, supportive communication management, communication knowledge gaps, organizational and technological factors and organizational culture. By addressing the root causes of communication inefficiencies, this study contributes to construction management literature and offers actionable insights for industry practitioners and researchers. The findings support the development of targeted strategies to enhance communication dynamics, ultimately improving project outcomes and industry practices.