Analysing functionalities of project extranets in construction : a provision and requirement approach

Liu, N

Abstract

Project extranets are adopted to improve information management, communication and
collaborative working in construction industry. Previous studies have demonstrated their
development, evolution and implementation. The benefits, barriers and success factors
surrounding the use of project extranets are also documented. However, although the general
functionalities of project extranets have been identified and described, there is still a lack of
systematic way to analyze the functionalities provided by different systems and required by
various users. To bridge this gap, this research develops a novel approach aiming to find the
differences, major components and potential improvements from the integrated analysis to
systems' provisions and user requirements.
This approach, named, Provision & Requirement (P&R) approach starts with the reviews to
the development and use of project extranets and outlines the characteristics of such systems.
It has then listed and grouped the function and associated features into some categories, in
order to set the criteria for the analysis from system provisions and user requirements.
Afterwards, it conducts investigations by case study and questionnaire survey, aiming to
gather functionalities provided by selected sample systems and to elicit user requirements to
the listed functionalities. The results help the author to classify the functionalities
hierarchically based on their availability in the products and users' preferences. The
investigations have therefore established the fundament for proposing the P&R approach and
conduct further analysis by comparing the provisions and requirements. Through the analysis,
the author reaches research findings, by presenting the differences, major components and
possible improvements of functionalities of project extranets. Later, the research findings are
validated and proposed approach is consolidated by interviews, leading to the answers to the
research questions and concluding research outcomes.
The main contribution of this research is that it develops a novel approach to analyze
functionalities in project extranets. This approach aims to integrate both systems provisions
and user requirements into consideration. By doing so, this approach studies system vendors
and users' perspectives to functionality issues, to reflect their respective attitude and make the
comparison, in order that researchers can have wider knowledge from different research
angles and achieve the balance on the issues of systems' provisions and user requirements.
So, this research has established a holistic approach of analysing functionalities of project
extranets, rather than focusing only on one part from either vendors or users, which in return
has contributed to its uniqueness and distinctiveness.
The result may be useful to system vendors, customers and researchers involved in the
development and implementation of project extranets or other web-based information
systems. The research has put forward to the ideas for other similar research, with more
holistic consideration to all stakeholders involved in the studied topics. It can also be used to
develop other methodologies that consider the adaptation of elements of one industry's
practice to another, thus satisfying other research gaps.

Citation

Liu, N. Analysing functionalities of project extranets in construction : a provision and requirement approach. (Thesis). Salford : University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Oct 3, 2012
• Award Date: Jan 1, 2010