Arif, A A and Karam, A H (2005) Architectural practices and IT: Local vs international. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 3(2), pp. 155-163. ISSN 1726-0531
Abstract
This paper reports on the use of Information Technologies (IT) in the South African building industry. It offers an insight into the architecture profession, a profession that plays a major role in the construction sector. The analysis is based on the results of a survey conducted in the Western Cape Province during the year 2000. In an attempt to uncover the similarities and differences between the local context and the international one, this paper outlines a few elements of IT for comparison. After a brief introduction to the IT map of South Africa, the analysis concentrates on the following four issues: Response and Respondents, General IT usage, Use of ComputerAidedDesign (CAD) and Use of Networks. Each of these issues is framed in both the local and the international contexts. Despite the shortcomings of using different questions with different emphasis when referring to other surveys, it is still believed that reporting on local practices is not extremely meaningful in isolation. It is hoped that this type of analysis will serve to unravel the particulars of the construction industry in South Africa providing its counterparts with a new perspective.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | architectural firms; architectural practices; information technologies; South Africa; Western Cape |
| Index terms: | architectural practice, profession, building industry, construction industry, architectural firm, information technology, construction sector, South Africa, survey |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, business, institututions, computing systems, Geography, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Business Strategy |
| 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