Bentley, D and Stacey, R (1998) The potential for applying complex adaptive systems theory to the process of estimating in the construction industry. In: Hughes, W (ed.) Proceedings of 14th Annual ARCOM Conference, 9-11 September 1998, Reading, UK.
Abstract
Complex adaptive systems are networks consisting of large numbers of interacting agents: for example, genes in an organism; neurones in a brain; ants in a colony; people in an organization; readymix concrete plants, trucks and construction sites in a city. Such systems are adaptive in the sense that they evolve in order to survive and as they evolve they produce emergent outcomes in a spontaneously self organizing way. Theories of such systems are being developed, and their dynamic properties are being explored using computer simulations, in a number of research institutions, most notably at the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico in the United States. There is a growing interest in this research on the part of industrial and commercial organizations: e.g. Cemento Mexicana in Mexico City has developed scheduling systems for its readymix concrete trucks based on complexity theory. This paper considers whether the theory of complex adaptive systems has any relevance to the process of estimating in the construction industry, concluding that it might have and suggesting a research agenda to develop applications.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | complexity; emergence; estimating; genetic; algorithms |
| Index terms: | Mexico, Mexico City, complex adaptive system, computer simulation, construction site, scheduling, United States, research agenda, research institution, complexity, emergence, estimating, construction industry, agent, self-organizing |
| Subjects: | Geography, research management, sociology, industry analysis, systems engineering, business, practitioner, operations research, modelling and simulation, work location, financial and cost management |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Cost Management, Engineering Principles, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Site Management, Organizational Design, Time Control, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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