Löfgren, A (2005) Socio-technical management of collaborative mobile computing in construction. In: Khosrowshahi, F (ed.) Proceedings of 21st Annual ARCOM Conference, 7-9 September 2005, London, UK.
Abstract
The constant changes of plan and unanticipated events in the production process at construction sites result in communication patterns that are dynamic, spontaneous and informal. Most of the existing ICT tools do not sufficiently support informal communication for powerful collaborative problem-solving, management of site resources, handling of parallel process activities and do not correspond to the basic needs and work patterns at the construction sites. Mobile computing technologies have the potential to provide an inclusive wireless mobile ICT platform (voice and data) that can enable improved support for informal communication and on-demand data at construction sites, which can result in improved project collaboration leading to increased efficiency and productivity in the construction process. Still, an implementation strategy for collaborative mobile computing at construction sites is complex and must consider numerous issues regarding system capabilities, mobility, applications, services, integration of existing ICT systems, user interface and user devices to meet the requirements and behaviours of site workers in the mobile distributed heterogeneous construction environment. A mobile computing platform needs to be designed, implemented and managed with a socio-technical bottom-up approach realizing end user and group needs, understanding the separate issues of adoption on different organizational levels, and recognizing mobile computing as a process integrated enabling technology for improving collaboration and project communication throughout the whole construction process.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction site; informal communication; mobile computing; project collaboration; unanticipated events |
| Index terms: | user interface, implementation, mobility, construction process, end user, project communication, strategy, production process, integration, platform, construction site, bottom-up approach, collaboration, efficiency, productivity, mobile computing, socio-technical |
| Subjects: | organizational analysis, manufacturing engineering, work location, digital technology, human-computer interaction, performance management, management, building construction, contractual arrangements, infrastructure and transport systems, professional development, research methods, urban planning, stakeholder, digital design |
| Topics: | Site Management, Quality Management, Roles and Professions, Engineering Principles, Urban Studies, Digital Applications, Procurement, Governance, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Information Management |
| 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