Mohagheghi-Fard, M N (2019) An online collaboration framework for small and medium sized enterprises in the United Kingdom construction sector. PhD thesis, University of Salford, UK.
Abstract
More than 99% of the UK construction sector includes businesses that are defined within the category of SMEs (Small and Medium Sized Enterprises). Of these, most are categorised as micro-businesses that have less than ten employees (Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, Business Population Estimates for UK and the Regions, 2015). Therefore, it is an essential part of the construction sector that requires attention. A large part of their business depends on collaboration and partnering with other businesses. Online technologies are the latest trend to achieve innovative collaboration. Such technologies could improve the collaboration methods within construction SMEs and make them more competitive in the marketplace. By minimising the cost of their hardware and software systems, this will provide them with greater security and accessibility, thereby helping construction SMEs to focus more towards their core business and enhance productivity. This research has sought to achieve the aim of developing a collaboration framework specifically for construction SMEs based on online technologies. The objectives that were followed included reviewing the associated literature with regards to differences between SMEs and larger enterprises in the construction industry, assessment and evaluation of the related literature in connection with success factors in the construction industry, observation and inspection of the attributes of exiting online technologies and their prospective advantages for collaboration working, identification and recognition of the current collaboration issues occurred within the construction industry, examining the key requirements pertaining to effective collaboration within construction SMEs and, finally, to develop a collaboration framework for construction SMEs based on online technologies. A total of 17 interviews were carried out and the interviewees were selected carefully from several different construction SMEs, ensuring that a variety of SME sizes were selected to identify various associated issues that may occur within the construction SMEs regardless of their sizes. The extracted information from all interviews confirmed numerous aspects that caused similar issues within the associated companies regardless of their sizes. The gathered data, along with the related literature review, helped to achieve the aim and objectives of this research and to develop the final framework.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | collaboration; innovation; interview; partnering; productivity; skills; small and medium sized enterprises; UK |
| Index terms: | construction industry, estimate, hardware, inspection, productivity, small and medium sized enterprise, accessibility, partnering, core busines, construction sector, collaboration, population, success factor, United Kingdom, literature review, interview |
| Subjects: | organization, quality assurance, demography, Geography, inclusive design, data analysis and analytics, health monitoring assessment and metrics, financial and cost management, computer hardware, data collection methods, business, industry analysis, partnership management, management |
| Topics: | Stakeholder Management, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Organizational Design, Design Practice, Digital Applications, Urban Studies, Geographical Context, Health and Safety, Quality Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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