Johnson, K D and Tatum, C B (1993) Technology in marine construction firms. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 119(1), pp. 148-162. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
This paper describes the common characteristics of marine construction firms, identifies opportunities for and constraints to advanced technology in marine construction, forwards recommendations for advancing marine construction technology, and identifies implications regarding technology in other segments of the construction industry. Although marine construction firms innovate and apply new technologies to win and successfully construct specialized marine projects, many technologies are abandoned after meeting the challenges of the target project. A short-term view of technology in marine construction due to varying project demands, market forces, and the competitive-bidding and -contracting system is a major barrier to innovation and technological advancement. Marine construction firms can gain competitive advantages based on low cost or distinctive capabilities by developing sustainable technologies to meet the unique challenges inherent in the marine project. A managerial framework, defined as an organizational structure and procedures for developing new technologies, is forwarded to help marine construction firms develop sustainable technologies for competitive advantage. Reforms to the competitive-bidding and -contracting system are recommended for public owners to help facilitate innovation and new technology.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Index terms: | bidding, organizational structure, public owner, construction firm, construction technology, construction industry, new technology, competitive advantage, low cost |
| Subjects: | sociology, market analysis, industry analysis, innovation and technology management, bidding, organization, digital engineering |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Stakeholder Management, Procurement, Business Strategy, Engineering Principles, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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