Khan, K I A; Flanagan, R and Lu, S-L (2016) Managing information complexity using system dynamics on construction projects. Construction Management and Economics, 34(3), pp. 192-204. ISSN 0144-6193
Abstract
The increase in e-commerce, the digitisation of design data and the interchange and sharing of information have made the construction sector more reliant upon IT infrastructure and systems. The design and production process is complex, dynamic, interconnected and dependent upon greater information mobility, requiring seamless exchange of data and information in real time. Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular, specialty contractors, can utilise cost-effective collaboration technologies, such as cloud computing using software as a service, to help in the effective transfer of information and data. The system dynamics (SD) approach gives a better understanding of the dynamics of complex systems. SD methodology is used as a modelling and analysis tool to understand and identify the key drivers in the absorption of cloud computing for SMEs. The aim is to determine how the use of SD can improve the management of complexity of information flow, leading to improved performance for SMEs. SD is shown to be a viable tool to manage information complexity using cloud computing for performance improvement in construction.; The increase in e-commerce, the digitisation of design data and the interchange and sharing of information have made the construction sector more reliant upon IT infrastructure and systems. The design and production process is complex, dynamic, interconnected and dependent upon greater information mobility, requiring seamless exchange of data and information in real time. Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular, specialty contractors, can utilise cost-effective collaboration technologies, such as cloud computing using software as a service, to help in the effective transfer of information and data. The system dynamics (SD) approach gives a better understanding of the dynamics of complex systems. SD methodology is used as a modelling and analysis tool to understand and identify the key drivers in the absorption of cloud computing for SMEs. The aim is to determine how the use of SD can improve the management of complexity of information flow, leading to improved performance for SMEs. SD is shown to be a viable tool to manage information complexity using cloud computing for performance improvement in construction.;
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | system dynamics; cloud computing; small- and medium-sized enterprises; information mobility; performance improvement; construction |
| Index terms: | information flow, production process, cloud computing, complexity, construction sector, information mobility, system dynamics, collaboration, construction project, methodology, complex system, specialty contractor, e-commerce, modelling, dynamics, real time, performance improvement |
| Subjects: | computing systems, digital commerce, professional practice, analytical methods, production management, performance measurement, management, manufacturing engineering, research methods, industry analysis, systems engineering, information systems, digital infrastructure, data management, project controls |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Digital Applications, Organizational Design, Time Control, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Research Practice |
| 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