London, K; Singh, V; Taylor, C; Gu, N and Brankovic, L (2008) Building information modelling project decision support framework. In: Dainty, A (ed.) Proceedings of 24th Annual ARCOM Conference, 1-3 September 2008, Cardiff, UK.
Abstract
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within the Construction Industry are not very innovative or active in terms of developing, implementing, adopting and diffusing new information and communications technologies. Any research to date has mainly focused on, and benefited, large construction enterprises who are developing complex distributed computer systems for co-ordination and management of project activities across diverse geographical locations. However, SMEs also need systems that co-ordinate and manage activities across different locations. Building sites tend not to be side by side. But SMEs, due to their very nature, need to see any new system’s added value to existing manual systems before making any commitment to bring in new technology. The only way to measure added value is to know what value the existing systems have. Again, there is little meaningful writing in this field as most studies need to have a high level of confidentiality. This paper highlights some of the real issues facing SMEs in their pursuit of systems that add value. Human and financial resources, time, previous experience and relationships, both formal and informal, all weave an intricate pattern that dictate SMEs approach to IT implementation. The issues highlighted are based upon an Action Research-based case study currently underway in a SME in the construction industry.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | information management; information technology; management information systems; research methods; SMEs |
| Index terms: | action research, new technology, decision support, case study, added value, building information modelling, computer system, communications technology, building site, commitment, management information system, confidentiality, information technology, construction industry, implementation |
| Subjects: | psychology, economic analysis, contractual arrangements, innovation and technology management, data collection methods, computing systems, decision analysis, data management, information systems, industry analysis, professional ethics, site and location studies |
| Topics: | Procurement, Risk Management, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Legal Issues |
| 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