A strategic approach to the implementation of information technologies in small and medium-sized architecture, engineering and construction enterprises

Abuelma'atti, A

Abstract

It is widely recognised that collaboration in the Architecture, Engineering and
Construction (AEC) sector increases productivity, improves quality, competitiveness
and profitability. This poses the problem of what are the most appropriate collaboration
methods available to accommodate unique work settings and virtual organisation like
modus operandi. With Building Information Modelling (BIM) being imposed by the
government on AEC projects by 2016, the development of new technology for
collaboration purposes is one solution to this problem. Unfortunately information
technologies have failed in productivity growth despite previous government's attempts,
most famously, with the 2004 Latham and 2008 Egan reports. In fact, companies
frequently fail in achieving the full profitability from their implementations. However,
the government sees BIM as a way to drive efficiency during the economic downturn.
BIM is not about a specific technology, but ensuring the whole-sector adoption is
fundamental. Many high-profile clients and contractors are reviewing what are the
technologies utilised and how efficient are they for collaborative working between large
companies and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)? In fact, many SMEs within the
sector would like to be implementing BIM not only for the business productivity, but
also to not get left behind. It is, however, commonly observed that SMEs have fewer
chances to set it right and so thev need uuidance. Debate over whether or not to use CO - CT
BIM has become almost irrelevant. Instead, the question raised is how collaborative
technologies promote collaborative working between large companies and SMEs in the
AEC sector to increase productivity and improve quality to meet the high collaboration
demands?
Against this background, several approaches from the literature were reviewed. This led
to identifying the key elements to focus on during the collaborative technologies
implementation to enhance successful collaboration. A qualitative study of fourteen
cases was developed in order to map the current practice of the collaborative
technologies implementations and their success level in the AEC sector. The case
studies revealed a number of factors affecting the success of collaborative technologies
implementations. These factors were affecting the collaboration at the organisation level. This also led to further investigation of the factors affecting the collaboration at
the end-user level. The quantitative study of a survey returned by sixty four respondents
was guided by the list of elements proposed by the review developed from the literature.
The results suggested that the success of collaborative technologies depends on 23
variables. To assess the level of importance of the explored variables, a study of factor
analysis was initiated. This allowed the large number of variables to be distilled into a
small number of related factors. There appear to be five major groupings of factors. The
first grouping contains seven Individual variables. Second in importance is the grouping
of five Organisational variables. The third grouping consists of three Legal variables.
The fourth grouping includes three Socio-cultural variables. The fifth grouping is
formed of four Project variables.
This research concluded that, collaborative technologies are effective methods to
support collaboration within the AEC and meet the demands of the sector, when
strategically implemented, underlined by a set of factors, which are interpreted to
describe the data derived from the qualitative and quantitative approaches, in a
parsimonious but more meaningful number of concepts than the originally developed
variables. Recommendation emerged from these findings are used to suggest a path for
SMEs to implement BIM into AEC. so that they are better prepared for the future ways
of working.

Citation

Abuelma'atti, A. A strategic approach to the implementation of information technologies in small and medium-sized architecture, engineering and construction enterprises. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jul 27, 2021
• Award Date: Jun 1, 2012