Tambo, T (2010) Smooth operator: Mobile information technology for improved flow at the construction site. In: Egbu, C (ed.) Proceedings of 26th Annual ARCOM Conference, 6-8 September 2010, Leeds, UK.
Abstract
Mobile information technology (IT) seems an ideal innovation to promote effectiveness of the construction process, particularly at the construction site; research has over the last 15 years focused on solutions, potentials and barriers with this field. This paper aim at the duality between research and industry for an updated and forward looking comprehension, and view of tendencies, of the roles and potentials of mobile IT at the construction site including potential for further research. Qualitative and interpretive methodology inspired by information systems and sociology of research and construction is used; mobility is classified as remote, local or micro. Literature study is employed along with market screening for mobile systems and case studies of companies adopting these as well as rejecting the technology. Within research communities, software manufacturers and construction companies a mixed attitude is seen; stretching from quick movers to full rejection; developing a taxonomy indicate mobile IT mainly as Extended ERP and for Rich Documentation. The ambiguousness of mobile IT on the construction site supports further research within this field using expanded arrays of multi-disciplinary approaches and including regulators, new technologies and innovation barriers/drivers within construction.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | mobile information technologies; mobility; enterprise resource planning; rich documentation |
| Index terms: | regulator, construction company, screening, documentation, sociology, construction site, mobility, case study, new technology, innovation barrier, enterprise resource planning, manufacturer, information technology, taxonomy, information system, effectiveness, construction process, methodology |
| Subjects: | information systems, infrastructure and transport systems, computer science, sociology, building construction, professional development, social theory, performance management, research methods, management, data analysis and analytics, innovation and technology management, work location, practitioner, computing systems, innovation studies, organization, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Human Resources, Quality Management, Digital Applications, Urban Studies, Site Management, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Information Management, Business Strategy, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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