Thorpe, T and Mead, S (2001) Project-specific web sites: Friend or foe? Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 127(5), pp. 406-413. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Recent research has shown that one of the keys to project success is effective communication. Today, project communication is becoming increasingly complex, and the rapid transmission of project information is vital to project performance. Unfortunately, our current information network is based on project "push" - where information is moved sequentially to and from each member of the project team. The alternative to push communication is "pull" communication, where individuals access project information from a single central source. Project-specific Web sites (PSWSs) give construction personnel new ways of pulling the information needed to design and build today's complex projects. This paper will describe information push and pull, and discuss its applications in project-specific Web sites. Additionally, the paper will outline a case study approach that uses a social network analysis to study push/pull on three major construction projects. The research found that PSWSs can speed information flows on construction projects, but can also generate information "overload" that limits its effectiveness. More important, the study found that the success of new Internet-based technologies depends on the participation of key members of the project team. When one of these key players refuses to participate, then Internet-based project management systems quickly lose their effectiveness.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Index terms: | information flow, complex project, internet, case study, design and build, construction personnel, refuse, effectiveness, construction project, project team, project communication, project management, project performance, social network analysis, project success, becoming |
| Subjects: | information systems, waste management, production management, professional development, workforce, strategic project management, contractual arrangements, research methods, project delivery, data collection methods, project management theory and practice, computing systems, performance management, philosophical process |
| Topics: | Information Management, Procurement, Digital Applications, Project Management, Research Practice, Quality Management, Human Resources, Sustainability |
| 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