Fan, S (2009) The effect of using group decision support systems on the processes and outcomes of value management studies. PhD thesis, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
Abstract
As a useful tool that can help construction industry achieve value for money, value management (VM) has been widely used in many developed countries for several decades. However, reluctance to use VM often stems from the time that an expensive team has to invest in undertaking the VM process. Moreover, VM faces more difficulties when employers and employees, and superiors and subordinates are in the same team, due to member dominance and conformance pressure. It is proposed that group decision support systems (GDSS) may be used to make the VM process more efficient and effective. The main objectives of this project are (1) to investigate the extent to which the use of GDSS can improve effectiveness and efficiency in the processes and outcomes of VM studies in construction projects; and (2) to identify critical success factors for the integration of GDSS with activities in the VM process. These objectives have been achieved mainly through a systematic approach using purpose-designed experimental studies conducted in Hong Kong. The results have shown that GDSS is a promising technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of current VM studies. In order to further investigate the effect of using GDSS in real-life VM studies, an action research study has been conducted and the results are positive. Finally, four underlying critical success factors for using GDSS in VM studies have been identified through a questionnaire survey: VM team's computer proficiency, system capabilities, workshop duration and number of participants, environmental setting. This systemic investigation leads to new knowledge on the use of GDSS to support and improve VM studies in construction industry. These outcomes can have a profound impact on the way VM workshops should be conducted and on the use of GDSS to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of VM studies. These outcomes are valuable to the construction industry in Hong Kong, where both the government and the industry have called for wider use of VM, and yet users have encountered more difficulties than their overseas counterparts due to large number of participants and short duration of the workshops.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Shen, Q |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Hong Kong; action research; decision support; duration; government; integration; questionnaire survey; value for money; value management; workshops |
| Index terms: | value-for-money, critical success factor, developed country, questionnaire, integration, construction project, survey, experiment, face, action research, decision support, construction industry, duration, value management, effectiveness, investigation, workshop, efficiency, Hong Kong |
| Subjects: | psychology, construction type, production management, Geography, development economics, evaluation, data collection methods, control systems, organizational analysis, project controls, decision analysis, industry analysis, management, performance management |
| Topics: | Project Management, Geographical Context, Risk Management, Value Management, Quality Management, Research Practice, Construction Technology, International Construction, Time Control, Organizational Design |
| 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