Abstract
<jats:p>Purpose: The Last Planner System® (LPS®) is a lean construction tool aimed at enhancing the reliability of production planning and control. Although effective communication among project stakeholders is recognized as essential for LPS success, limited research has explored the correlation between social network interactions and the level of LPS implementation. This study examines how team member interactions influence LPS effectiveness in the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) industry. Research Method: Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, this research employs Social Network Analysis (SNA) across three case studies to integrate social network characteristics with LPS performance metrics. Findings: The findings reveal a trend suggestion that a well-connected lookahead planning network may be associated with higher Percent Plan Complete (PPC). Specifically, a positive correlation exists between Graph Density and PPC, while a negative correlation is observed between Average Path Length and PPC. These patterns suggest that robust stakeholder communication may play an important role in enhancing LPS implementation, as stronger communication in lookahead planning appears to be associated with improved project performance by increasing the PPC. Limitations: The study needs to be replicated on the other projects to increase generalizability. Implications: The proposed framework enables project managers to enhance LPS effectiveness by fostering human-centered collaboration and integrating smart digital technologies. By emphasizing the importance of social interactions in project settings, this research underscores the potential for improved project outcomes through enhanced stakeholder engagement in the AECO industry. Value for practitioners: This research contributes original insights by proposing a novel health-check framework, which serves as a practical tool for project managers to map current social interactions, identify areas for improvement, and bridge gaps in communication. Keywords: Last Planner System (LPS), Project Planning and Control, Social Network Analysis (SNA), Stakeholder Communication. Paper type: Full paper</jats:p>