Key Soft Skills for NEC Contract Management: The Case of Peru

Villar-Vasquez J.A.; Romaní-Chavez J.A.; Rivera-Nalvarte C.C.; Morales-Gutierrez Y.A.; Erazo-Rondinel A.A. · Revista Ingenieria de Construccion (2026) · DOI: 10.7764/ric.00180.21

Resumen

Managing New Engineering Contract (NEC) projects requires not only technical knowledge but also soft skills that support communication, collaboration, and proactive risk management. This study identifies and prioritizes the soft skills required for NEC contract management in Peru. A literature review was used to develop a preliminary list of competencies, which was validated by seven experts and evaluated through a survey of 74 professionals with direct NEC project experience. The Relative Importance Index was applied to rank the competencies. Problem solving obtained the highest score (94.86%), followed by effective communication (94.05%) and team leadership and coordination (92.70%); negotiation and active collaboration were tied next (92.43% each). The findings show that effective NEC management depends on combining proactive problem solving, clear communication, team coordination, constructive negotiation, and active collaboration. These results can guide professional selection and training in public entities and contractors. Future studies should test the findings with larger samples and in other national contexts.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería; Universidad Continental