Abstract
This chapter looks at the application of IT to the exploration of the multiple
faceted business environment that may be faced by construction firms.
Often IT has been seen as a tool to assist project management, in terms of
time control, monitoring of construction progress, etc. Frequently it is used to
support design through computer-aided design (CAD) and more recently
visualisation of the product of construction and the process of how it may be
built. Early applications for using IT was as support for administration, such as
record keeping, wages and salary calculations. However, it has not been until
recently that IT has been able to be applied to an environment that combines
quantitative data that needs qualitative judgements to be made about the
data.
This chapter records an experiment in which choices and preferences are
modelled by the use of sophisticated IT. The setting of these choices was one
whereby strategic decision makers in construction need to explore the
alternative business environments for the construction industry. These
convey multiple possibilities and by modelling them the strategic planner
may lay plans for the firm with greater confidence. It discusses a product
produced by a research project undertaken at Strathclyde University that
produced a piece of software call The Construction Alternative Futures
Explorer (CAFE).
faceted business environment that may be faced by construction firms.
Often IT has been seen as a tool to assist project management, in terms of
time control, monitoring of construction progress, etc. Frequently it is used to
support design through computer-aided design (CAD) and more recently
visualisation of the product of construction and the process of how it may be
built. Early applications for using IT was as support for administration, such as
record keeping, wages and salary calculations. However, it has not been until
recently that IT has been able to be applied to an environment that combines
quantitative data that needs qualitative judgements to be made about the
data.
This chapter records an experiment in which choices and preferences are
modelled by the use of sophisticated IT. The setting of these choices was one
whereby strategic decision makers in construction need to explore the
alternative business environments for the construction industry. These
convey multiple possibilities and by modelling them the strategic planner
may lay plans for the firm with greater confidence. It discusses a product
produced by a research project undertaken at Strathclyde University that
produced a piece of software call The Construction Alternative Futures
Explorer (CAFE).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Computer integrated planning and design for construction |
| Editors | D Langford, A Retik |
| Pages | 145-156 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1997 |
Keywords
- IT strategy
- information technology
- construction firms
- project management