Khan, K I A; Flanagan, R and Lu, S L (2015) Managing the complexity of information flow for construction small and medium-sized enterprises (csmes) using system dynamics and collaborative technologies. In: Raiden, A and Aboagye-Nimo, E (eds.) Proceedings of 31st Annual ARCOM Conference, 7-9 September 2015, Lincoln, UK.
Abstract
With the increase in e-commerce and the digitisation of design data and information, the construction sector has become reliant upon IT infrastructure and systems. The design and production process is more complex, more interconnected, and reliant upon greater information mobility, with seamless exchange of data and information in real time. Construction small and medium-sized enterprises (CSMEs), in particular, the speciality contractors, can effectively utilise cost-effective collaboration-enabling technologies, such as cloud computing, to help in the effective transfer of information and data to improve productivity. The system dynamics (SD) approach offers a perspective and tools to enable a better understanding of the dynamics of complex systems. This research focuses upon system dynamics methodology as a modelling and analysis tool in order to understand and identify the key drivers in the absorption of cloud computing for CSMEs. The aim of this paper is to determine how the use of system dynamics (SD) can improve the management of information flow through collaborative technologies leading to improved productivity. The data supporting the use of system dynamics was obtained through a pilot study consisting of questionnaires and interviews from five CSMEs in the UK house-building sector.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction small and medium-sized enterprises; cloud computing; information mobility; productivity; system dynamics |
| Index terms: | e-commerce, complex system, information flow, production process, productivity, cloud computing, interview, complexity, modelling, construction sector, questionnaire, methodology, real time, information mobility, dynamics, collaboration, system dynamics |
| Subjects: | research methods, management, manufacturing engineering, project controls, data management, digital infrastructure, information systems, systems engineering, industry analysis, data collection methods, computing systems, analytical methods, digital commerce |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Digital Applications, 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