As a crucial soft skill, Emotional Intelligence is reported to have many benefits, yet it remains largely unexplored in construction project management. Since little research has been done on methods to increase project performance and due to the importance of the issue, project integration management can be in measures to increase project performance in construction projects. This study aims to help increase the performance of construction projects. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of project integration management on the performance of Mashhad construction projects management using a survey method in Mashhad. The purpose of this paper is to explore further application of project manager’s EI to improve project performance. A questionnaire-based survey covering 112 project managers in construction is used to determine project managers’ EI, and relate that to the performance of their most recent projects, as well as examine the moderating effects of international involvement and contract type. Results indicate high expressions of six EI factors in project performance of large and complex scale; whereas the effects of self-confidence and teamwork have not been confirmed. Additionally, international involvement and contract type are found to moderate the relationships between certain EI factors and project performance. The paper makes recommendations on selection and appointment of project managers to construction organizations; meanwhile it assists project managers in recognizing the significant competencies that cater for large and complex construction projects. In this paper, the EI model is modified especially for project managers, to make up for the deficiency of project managers’ EI framework, as well as the project performance criteria for construction projects.

Key words: Emotional intelligence, Project manager, Project performance, Construction Project management, Construction industry, Project management.

Ali Reza Afshari is a Professor in the Department of Industrial engineering, Islamic Azad University. He is active in theoretical developments of Fuzzy Decision-Making techniques. His research interests include Construction Management, Project Management, IT PM, and MCDM for improving design and process. Ali Reza Afshari holds a PhD degree in Industrial Engineering (Project Management) from the Faculty of Engineering, University Putra Malaysia (UPM). He holds a Master of Engineering in the Industrial Engineering from the University of Poly Technique (Tehran) with distinguished honors. He also has over 30 years of experience in the establishment of the Project Management Systems in different companies. His current research interest focuses on Linguistic Decision Making, Project Manager Selection, Personnel Selection. His papers more than 70, have published and presented in the several journals and conferences. He is also an international referee for prestigious scientific publications such as Elsevier, Springer, ASCE, Taylor & Francis, John Wiley & Sons, IEEE, InderScience, World Scientific, and Institute of Information Science. He has served on several international conferences as a member of the Scientific Committee and as a keynote speaker.