van den Berg, M; Voordijk, H and Adriaanse, A (2020) Information processing for end-of-life coordination: a multiple-case study. Construction Innovation, 20(4), pp. 647-671. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore how demolition contractors coordinate project activities for buildings at their end-of-life. The organizations are thereby conceptualized as information processing systems facing uncertainty. Design/methodology/approach: A multiple-case study methodology was selected to gain in-depth insights from three projects with different end-of-life strategies: a faculty building (material recycling), a nursing home (component reuse) and a psychiatric hospital (element reuse). Using a theory elaboration approach, the authors sought to explain how and why demolition contractors process information for end-of-life coordination. Findings: End-of-life strategies differ in the degree of building, workflow and environmental uncertainty posed to the demolition contractor. Whether or not a strategy is effective depends on the (mis)match between the specific levels of uncertainty and the adopted coordination mechanisms. Research limitations/implications: The explanatory account on end-of-life coordination refines information processing theory for the context of (selective) demolition projects. Practical implications: The detailed case descriptions and information processing perspective enable practitioners to select, implement and reflect on coordination mechanisms for demolition/deconstruction projects at hand. Originality/value: Reflecting its dual conceptual-empirical and inductive-deductive focus, this study contributes with new opportunities to explain building end-of-life coordination with a refined theory.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | building; circular economy; demolition; information systems/management; materials; whole life cycle |
| Index terms: | nursing home, environmental uncertainty, information processing, coordination, case study, whole life cycle, recycling, circular economy, methodology, practitioner, information system, workflow, strategy |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, construction type, practitioner, waste management, data science, research methods, sustainability assessment, management, financial risk, sustainable design, information systems |
| Topics: | Construction Technology, Sustainability, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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