Redefining ICT Embeddedness in the Construction Industry: Maximising Technology Diffusion Capabilities to Support Agility

Architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) research often engages linear approaches for embedding/implementing/diffusing new technology into existing business systems and processes. However, developments in information and communication technology (ICT) often fail to deliver their full potential for a number of reasons. This paper presents these challenges and highlights the need to embrace equifinality as part of a structured approach for improving impact diffusion. The central tenet and foci of this work rests with the optimization of AEC business agility. Given this, a multiple case study approach using three large construction organizations (in Turkey) was used to capture primary data from 30 respondents – representing viewpoints from three management levels: top management, middle management and first line management. Findings are presented in the form of a conceptual framework, the details of which highlight the constructs needed (inter alia ICT adoption/diffusion) to develop organizational: (i) responsiveness, (ii) flexibility and (iii) corporate competence

International Market Entry Decisions: A Knowledge-Based Approach

As far as the growing potential in the overseas construction markets is concerned, it is becoming more important for the medium to large-size construction companies to take their parts in the global construction market. An international market selection decision may be considered as a highly complex problem since it involves several correlated parameters regarding the project, market, host country and the company in question. Moreover, there is no mathematical formulation that can easily associate all these factors together with the company strategies to give a bidding decision. There are models developed by many researchers on this subject, using different techniques such as cross impact analysis (Han & Diekmann, 2001), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) (Hastak & Shaked, 2000; Gunhan & Arditi, 2005) and neural networks (Dikmen & Birgönül, 2004). Each tool has its own assumptions and shortcomings in terms of selecting input and output criteria, data collection, solution method and user intervention. The major objective of this paper is to introduce a knowledge-based approach, which adopts case-based reasoning (CBR) approach to facilitate international market entry decisions by the exploitation of past experiences that reside in the organizational memory (OM). One of the main aims of this study is to demonstrate how learning from the experiences of competitors can be utilized to assist strategic decision-making. Within the context of this research, a decision support tool namely, CBR-INT, has been constructed by using 215 real international project data and 16 features related with the project, market and the country. CBR-INT is used to predict the potential profitability of the project and the competitiveness level of the company when giving ‘bid/no-bid’ decisions in international markets. The reliability of the model is proved to be high for both prediction of potential profitability and level of competitiveness

Design, process, and service innovations to achieve sustainability

Climate change has led to the global recognition of the need to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. In the UK increasingly demanding building regulations require contractors to use innovative products and processes in their construction processes in order to deliver the specified environmental sustainability performance levels. Cost effective innovative solutions for achieving sustainability in construction requires considerable effort and commitment. As a fragmented and project-based industry, much construction innovation is co-developed at the project level. The major objective of this study is to analyse a construction project by exploring the role of design, process, and service innovations in achieving sustainability. In this respect, the eco-friendly accommodation at Lancaster University has been investigated as a case study. The project presents a case of client-driven innovation where building regulations on sustainability were taken into account in developing design and planning the construction process. The paper discusses the leading role of the university client as well as the role of partnering approach and community engagement in the innovation process. Finally, some recommendations are provided based on the lessons learned in this project

Critical success factors for partnering in the Turkish construction industry

Partnering is in the agenda of construction companies worldwide as it is an effective strategy that may increase competitiveness of companies and reduce risks retained by each party. In order for partnering to reach its expected benefits, partner selection is of vital importance. There are also some critical success factors (CSFs) that should be taken into account by the parties in order to maintain a successful partnership throughout its lifecycle. The aim of this research is to identify the factors affecting the partner selection process as well as the CSFs that are found important by the Turkish contractors. Within the context of this research, a questionnaire was designed to collect data and statistical analysis was conducted to reveal the perception of contractors about partnering based on the experiences of 49 Turkish companies. The scope of this paper is limited to short-term project-based joint ventures as it is the most widely used type of partnering in the Turkish construction industry. Results demonstrate that the most important factors while selecting partners are experience in similar projects, corporate image, relations with clients, and financial, technical, and managerial capability of the company. Cooperation among partners, clear definition of roles and responsibilities, mutual decision-making, dispute resolution, effective coordination and communication, and trust among partners are identified as the most important CSFs. After discussing the implications of identified CSFs for the Turkish construction industry, some strategies are proposed for maximising the success of the partnering process