Bröchner, J (1990) Impacts of information technology on the structure of construction. Construction Management and Economics, 8(2), pp. 205-218. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
Changes in the structure of the construction industry can be attributed in part to information costs being reduced over time. Co-ordination, inspection and the translation of client needs are facilitated, affecting employee incentives within firms, transactions between firms and the role of intermediaries. These aspects of information technology influence the optimal configuration of construction processes within each firm in the industry. Patterns of integration are seen as dependent on the interaction of aspects of information technology with attributes of each construction process. Geographic expansion, diversification or subcontracting, integration with materials supply and into real estate are considered. An emerging industry pattern with three types of firms: specializing, co-ordinating and local is indicated, while in the long run, a development towards individuals in project networks is foreseen.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction management; industry structure; information; integration |
| Index terms: | information technology, integration, construction process, configuration, project network, construction industry, interaction, intermediary, diversification, real estate, subcontracting, inspection |
| Subjects: | business, organization, computing systems, real estate economics, project planning, building construction, organizational analysis, market analysis, quality assurance, behavioral psychology, systems engineering, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, Site Management, Digital Applications, Urban Studies, Quality Management, Supply Chain Management, Business Strategy, Project Management, Research Practice, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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