Nasrallah, W F and Bou-Matar, R (2008) Exponential, gamma, and power law distributions in information flow on a construction site. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 134(6), pp. 442-450. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
This paper examines the statistical distributions of interarrival and response times for construction-site correspondence. Data from a number of construction projects are analyzed and hypotheses are proposed and tested to link the probability distribution to the type of correspondence. Although the commonly assumed exponential distribution of interarrival times is found to be accurate for all types of correspondence, the response times for different types of correspondence follow different distributions depending on the type of correspondence. In particular, a power law relationship is observed between incidence frequency and response time for requests for information. Knowing the statistical distributions for a class of events helps managers forecast future work and manage risk. Simulation models used by practitioners and researchers for various project management goals are also improved by incorporating appropriate statistical distributions for generating various events.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction management; information management; information systems; simulation models; statistics |
| Index terms: | information flow, construction site, manager, information system, practitioner, construction project, probability distribution, project management, statistics |
| Subjects: | project management theory and practice, production management, statistical analysis, information systems, mathematical modelling, practitioner, work location |
| Topics: | Site Management, Digital Applications, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Project Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCA |
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