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Electronic Business (e-Business) is recognised as being able to help organisations in the construction industry to achieve competitiveness and substantial benefits. However, the uptake of e-business in the construction industry has been relatively limited and ineffective. Previous research covers the body of knowledge about how to identify the value of e-business once it has been created or how to identify the capabilities that can create value. There is no guidance available to help organisations to maximise their leverage by investing intelligently and matching the size of their demand for e-business solutions to the size of the market they plan to supply. This research aims to identify the strategic e-business needs and requirements of organisations in the construction industry; it helps them to scan or position their current situation, and provide a holistic approach to assist them in developing an executable e-business strategy. In order to achieve the aim and the formulated objectives, a multi-methodological research design and a pragmatic mixed-methods approach, involving a combination of both quantitative and qualitative datasets, were adopted to investigate the e-business practices of organisations in the industry. These include an exploratory investigation (an industry survey with 250 industry organisations), and an explanatory investigation (four case studies with specific industry end-user companies). The collected data was analysed and problems were identified; the elements for a holistic approach to manage e-business implementation emerged. Subsequently, a Strategic e-Business Framework was developed to provide a holistic approach for organisations in the construction industry to plan, execute and review their e-business strategies. The Framework enables organisations to consider the medium term (three to five years), long-term (over five to ten years), and emergent needs to derive business value. The key features of the Framework include six phases and phase gates, five functional factors, and 23 activities. The six phases include Analyse Situation, Establish Vision, Define Critical Success Factors (CSFs), Develop Action Plan, Implement Action Plan, and Review Strategy. The phases were defined to guide the IT leaders in carrying out consistent e-business planning. The outputs of each phase (phase gates) were defined to assist IT leaders in the review of procedures during their e-business implementation. The functional factors include management, people, process, technology and external environment. The factors were identified to address every facet of an organisation, and obtain collaboration efforts from both internal and external. They also ensure organisations have the opportunities to improve capabilities in these areas, and make them ready for immediate e-business implementation. Five groups of people or teams were assigned to the activities. The five groups were the Senior Management Board, IT Managers and their teams, Middle Level Management, Lower Level Management and other End-users, and external collaborators. The activities were categorised in order to provide a basis for organisations to utilise their resources, specifically human resource. Finally, a feedback loop was defined to enable the Framework to act as a cycle for going through repeatedly, which makes the continuous improvement of e-business implementation possible within organisations and provides a learning and feedback function that ensures lessons to be learned from past e-business implementation. The evaluation of the Framework was conducted via six structured interviews with industry practitioners. The findings indicated that the industry practitioners welcomed the Framework and considered it as a positive step towards e-business management.
With a number of disparate, often geographically distributed,organisations involved in the delivery of construction projects,there has been considerable interest in e-business tools within theconstruction industry. These tools open up a range of possibilitiesfor the industry to rethink existing processes and working methods,so their use is increasingly common. Nevertheless, there has beenlittle definitive guidance for practitioners, researchers andstudents on the major issues in electronic business from aconstruction perspective. By bringing together 16 contributions from research and industrycovering theory, technological issues, practical implementation andlegal matters, and illustrated with a number of case studies,e-Business in Construction fills that gap. Starting with thetheoretical aspects of e-commerce and moving on to consider thespecifics of the construction context, it includes a mechanism forthe assessment of the e-readiness of construction sectororganisations. The middle part of the book focuses on the role ofvarious technologies in e-business, with examples included asappropriate. This is followed by a discussion of practical, legaland trust issues. The potential of next generation of informationand communication technologies is also addressed. With a fine blend of theoretical and practical aspects ofe-commerce in construction, and well illustrated with a number ofindustrial case studies, e-Business in Construction will find anappreciative audience of construction practitioners, researchersand students at all levels.
This internationally conducted study of the latest construction industry practices addresses a broad range of Information and Communication Technology applications. Drawing on research conducted in the US and UK, this book presents the state of the art of various ebusiness processes, and examines BIM, virtual environments and mobile technologies. Innovation is a theme that runs throughout this book, so in addition to the direct impact of these new technical achievements, it also considers the management styles that helped them to emerge. Examples from industry are illustrated with case studies and presented alongside research from some of the best known academics in this field. This book is essential reading for all advanced students and researchers interested in how ICT is changing construction management and the construction industry.
E-Commerce Strategy builds awareness and sharpens readers' understanding of the key issues about e-commerce strategies. To link theory of e-commerce strategy with practice in the real world, it brings together theoretical perspectives based on academic research, integrated use of technologies and large amount of cases, especially those of China. With regard to the innovative technical standards and frameworks, it proposes strategic analysis from a technical point of view. The book is intended for postgraduate students in e-commerce and computer science as well as government officials, entrepreneurs and managers. Prof. Zheng Qin is the Director of Software Engineering and Management Research Institute, Tsinghua University, China; Dr. Shundong Li is a Professor at the School of Computer Science, Shaanxi Normal University, China; Dr. Yang Chang and Dr. Fengxiang Li are both Research Assistants at the School of Software, Tsinghua University, China.
Technology development has provided fundamental benefits of speed, precision, and convenience to common business strategies; providing not only a means for functional integration, but also an opportunity to enhance competitive capability of a business firm. Implementing IT Business Strategy in the Construction Industry brings together topics on understanding business strategy and competitive advantage, as well as essential benefits of concepts and technologies for improving efficiency of the construction industry. This reference source is directed toward researchers, policy-makers, practitioners, undergraduate, and postgraduate students, in order to gain insights into the complex workings of the traditional construction industry and the concepts and tools used to facilitate a strategically IT enabled industry.
This internationally conducted study of the latest construction industry practices addresses a broad range of Information and Communication Technology applications. Drawing on research conducted in the US and UK, this book presents the state of the art of various ebusiness processes, and examines BIM, virtual environments and mobile technologies. Innovation is a theme that runs throughout this book, so in addition to the direct impact of these new technical achievements, it also considers the management styles that helped them to emerge. Examples from industry are illustrated with case studies and presented alongside research from some of the best known academics in this field. This book is essential reading for all advanced students and researchers interested in how ICT is changing construction management and the construction industry.
This book reviews the general theory of strategy, relates it to the particular circumstances of the construction industry, and shows how it can be applied in practice. It brings together ideas from economics, marketing, management, business and politics to develop strategic management for both contractors' firms and the associated professions. Substantial changes have occurred in the industry since the book was first published in 1991. This Second Edition reflects the major developments that have followed the Latham and Egan reports, and includes new chapters on international strategy and marketing, showing how they can contribute to the strategic planning of construction organizations. The book will provide a valuable tool for the strategic development of construction firms. "Ten years separate the editions during which period a significant number of British, (and other), construction firms which had survived generations of proprietors merged, changed beyond recognition or ceased trading. One can not but wonder if publication of a work on strategic planning some twenty year earlier might have saved some of them." Construction Manager "The book presents the essential elements for managing at this higher level and should be a must for any construction professional who aspires to an executive position in industry as well as any student for construction management, project management and organizational management in construction. It comes highly recommended" Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
Construction Business Development is the first book to provide an insight into business development strategies, tools and techniques in construction. This edited text combines academic research with the broad industrial experience of construction business development professionals and marketing consultants. It uses illustrations and case studies in addressing current and future challenges and opportunities in a highly competitive business environment. This practical book will help construction managers learn how to turn clients into loyal customers.
Looking at how e-commerce has affected the construction industry, this handbook provides a guide to commercial, legal and strategic change. It looks at the benefits of using e-commerce in the construction process by referring to case studies and explores the way in which procurement, project management, partnering projects and adjudication are being handled on the internet.
This research handbook provides a comprehensive, integrative, and authoritative resource on the main strategic management issues for companies within the e-business context. It covers an extensive set of topics, dealing with the major issues which articulate the e-business framework from a business perspective. The handbook is divided into the following e-business related parts: background; evolved strategic framework for the management of companies; key business processes, areas and activities; and, finally, emerging issues, trends and opportunities, with special attention to diverse Social Web-related implications. The articles are varied, timely and present high-quality research; many of these unique contributions will be especially valued and influential for business scholars and professionals interested in e-business. Many of the contributors are outstanding business scholars who are or have been editors-in-chief of top-ranked management and business journals or have made significant contributions to the development of their respective fields.