Matipa, W M and Siamuzwe, V M M (2005) Information and communication technology (ICT) supported supply chain management: Benefits for construction business in landlocked developing nations. In: Khosrowshahi, F (ed.) Proceedings of 21st Annual ARCOM Conference, 7-9 September 2005, London, UK.
Abstract
The Construction business scenario in Zambia is such that the local industrial base cannot fully support construction; hence contractors import most of the materials. However inaccessibility to the sea and highly bureaucratic border control systems cause extraordinary transport costs, acute delays on projects and severe logistical challenges to construction in general. The general characteristics of construction industries - such as fragmentation and rudimental operations -, regional political squabbles and general global business trends create unpredictable and hard to control effects on projects that exacerbate competitive disadvantages for companies with poor capital base. This research looks at how contractors in landlocked underdeveloped nations can apply the principles of supply chain management (SCM), locally and regionally, with the support of basic information and communication technology (ICT) systems to improve their logistical operations, and invigorate business competitiveness. The research proposes a schematic model that contracting businesses can use so as to stay afloat.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | AEC/FM; Zambia; competitiveness advantage; ICT; supply chain management |
| Index terms: | construction industry, competitiveness, control system, business competitivenes, Zambia, developing nation, fragmentation, import, information and communication technology |
| Subjects: | computing systems, business, economic analysis, monitoring and control, Geography, development economics, economics, industry analysis, market analysis |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, International Construction, Organizational Design, Business Strategy, Geographical Context, 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