Lex localis - Journal of Local Self-Government_11(1)_January

344 L EX LOCALIS - J OURNAL OF L OCAL S ELF -G OVERNMENT H. Wanivenhaus, J. Kovač, A. Žnidaršič & I. Vrečko: Vienna Construction Projects: Redirection of Project Management Critical Success Factors—More Focus on Stakeholders and Soft Skills Development organizations), and environmental technology (e.g., green spaces, water supply projects, and wastewater treatment facilities). The Vienna Planning Director heads the Urban Planning Group of the Executive Group for Construction and Technology and is responsible for coordinating the various planning activities and urban development projects that the city implements. The Executive Group for Construction and Technology includes:  19 subordinate technical departments and services;  nine developer departments in charge of coordinating building projects;  about 20,000 total staff in the subordinate departments;  1,300 construction management staff;  800 project management staff; and  a building volume of approximately € 500 million per year, plus projects and programs with special financing. Management Systems Unit. The Management Systems Unit (Stabsstelle Managementsysteme [SMS]) supports the departments in implementing construction projects. It offers fundamental services and expert advice on project and risk management and provides software for construction projects. It is in charge of process management throughout the Executive Group for Construction and Technology, coordinates reporting, and supports operative and strategic controlling as well as strategy development. It also serves as a certification body for EU project funding. Project management in construction and technology. Over the past six years, the Management Systems Unit has implemented a project management system in the relevant construction and building departments, which involved drawing up uniform standards, training some 800 staff in project management, providing counselling and audit services for pilot projects, and overseeing training and skills development measures for selected project coordinators. The project management standards follow IPMA certification standards and focus on different project types, such as refurbishment and rehabilitation and new construction. Three different project classes and a uniform assessment system ensure the efficient and effective management of all projects. The Management Systems Unit uses a maturity model to assess the individual departments’ maturity status and define measures to improve and develop project management standards. 3.2 Research Methodology Administration of the research lasted from the end of January 2014 until the beginning of March 2014. The researchers sent an invitation to participate in the web survey to 226 individuals; 191 completed the questionnaire, resulting in a 84.5% response rate. Unusually high response rate is not really surprising since the questionnaire was sent to project managers and project practitioners through