Smith, P (2001) Information technology and the QS practice. Construction Economics and Building, 1(1), pp. 1-21. ISSN 2204-9029
Abstract
The paper examines how Quantity Surveying practices can improve their business performance, market share and profit levels by embracing and evolving with the latest technological developments in electronic business practices and data/information analysis and exchange in the construction industry. Firms in the new millenium will need towork smarterto gain competitive advantage and electronic commerce provides probably the greatest scope for this to be achieved. More importantly, current project procurement trends strongly indicate that firms not able to communicating electronically at all levels with project participants will find it increasingly difficult to secure work. The results of three nationwide surveys of the Australian Quantity Surveying profession spanning from 1995 to 1999 are used to identify current business practices and technology utilisation by Quantity Surveying firms and to analyse whether firms are positioning themselves to meet future industryrequirements. The paper concludes with a range of Information Technology strategies aimed at improving business opportunities and performance for Quantity Surveying firms.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | quantity surveying; practice management; information technology strategy |
| Index terms: | construction industry, project procurement, profit, electronic commerce, survey, information technology, profession, market share, competitive advantage, quantity surveying firm, information technology strategy, technology utilization, business performance, practice management, quantity surveying practice, surveying |
| Subjects: | computing systems, institututions, profession, performance measurement, management, data collection methods, economic analysis, health monitoring assessment and metrics, contractual arrangements, industry analysis, digital commerce, innovation and technology management, market analysis, data management |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Procurement, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Digital Applications, Quality Management, Research Practice, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here