Bonanomi, Marcella Maria Melania Teodora (2018) Digital transformation of multidisciplinary design firms: A systematic analysis-based approach to change management. PhD thesis, Politecnico di Milano, Italy.
Abstract
Considering the paradigm shifts that the digitalization is bringing about in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Operations (AECO) industry, the research explores the impact on the design process and the related practices. Specifically, the research investigates the digital transformation in multidisciplinary design firms under the primary perspectives of the design processes and organizational structures. The questions posed are: what changes are occurring in multidisciplinary design firms associated with the digitalization of the AEC industry? How to understand, analyze, and manage changes in the design processes and organizational structures? How to draw, calibrate and target change management strategies according to the context of change and the level of digital and BIM implementation? Considering these research questions, the present study is aimed to bring forth a better understanding of what process-oriented and organizational changes occur in multidisciplinary design firms, how they unfold in context, and what change management strategies can be developed to plan and lead a digital business transformation accordingly. To fulfil these objectives, the research develops a systematic, analysis-based approach to change management for supporting the transition to digital and BIM which is made up by the following components: 1) change management framework for identifying primary areas of investigation; 2) set of change analysis methods for analyzing and visualizing process-oriented and organizational changes through qualitative and quantitative assessments; 3) strategic lines and related action-based approaches for managing change in the design processes and organizational structures.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Guidi, Franco and Paganin, Giancarlo |
| Index terms: | transformation, organizational structure, paradigm, strategy, design process, implementation, change management, investigation, design firm, organizational change, digitalization |
| Subjects: | sociology, data collection methods, practitioner, digital technology, contractual arrangements, business, design methods, management, education and knowledge transfer |
| Topics: | Procurement, Organizational Design, Design Practice, Digital Applications, Roles and Professions, Business Strategy, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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