Chimay J. Anumba

Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) applications: A brief introduction

This short paper introduces the key concepts behind RFID technology and presents a brief historical perspective. Examples of RFID applications are also given to highlight the developing popularity of the technology in many sectors. This paper will provide insights into the technology for the uninitiated reader without going into the technical and mathematical details. Over the next few years, this technology is expected to become ubiquitous in various forms and it is likely that everyones lives will be affected in many innovative ways.

KPIs: a critical appraisal of their use in construction

Traditionally businesses have measured their performance solely in financial terms. This limited approach has been challenged, with the introduction of the concept of key performance indicators (KPIs) for non‐financial results. In response to the Latham and Egan Reports, the UK construction industry has developed its own set of KPIs. However, their effective use has been limited. This paper reviews these and other construction KPIs and concludes that most of the KPIs used are post event, lagging measures that do not provide the opportunity to change. Their results are not validated and thus are open to interpretation. The result is that KPIs are being used within the industry as a marketing tool, and not as an integral part of business management. This paper distinguishes between three types of measure and suggests a framework for their effective use within an overall performance measurement system based on change action driven by results.

A CLEVER approach to selecting a knowledge management strategy

Abstract The effective management of knowledge is being recognised as a vehicle through which organisations can address their need for innovation and improved business performance. This paper describes a framework for selecting a knowledge management strategy that is appropriate to the organisational and cultural context of an organisation. The framework is the main output of the CLEVER ( c ross-sectoral le arning in the v irtual ent er prise) research project at Loughborough University. It was developed following a detailed study of current knowledge management processes in the construction and manufacturing sectors. The approach represented in the framework underscores the fact that knowledge management is not an end in itself but a means towards the solution of business problems that militate against the efficiency and innovative capacity of a company.

Knowledge management in the architecture, engineering and construction industry

Knowledge management (KM) is now recognized as a core business concern and intellectual assets play a vital role in gaining competitive advantage. Within the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, where the need for innovation and improved business performance requires the effective deployment and utilization of project knowledge, the need for strategic knowledge management is also being acknowledged. This paper reviews various initiatives for KM in order to assess the extent to which it is being implemented in the AEC sector. Contextual issues are identi. ed, and the findings from two research projects are used to assess current strategies for KM in AEC firms. These studies show that effective knowledge management requires a combination of both mechanistic and organic approaches in an integrated approach that incorporates both technological and organizational/cultural issues. The paper concludes with recommendations on how this could be achieved in practice.

Knowledge Management in UK Construction: Strategies, Resources and Barriers

Knowledge management (KM) has received considerable attention in recent years. Some consider knowledge the most strategically important resource, and learning the most strategically important capability for business organizations. Major UK construction organizations have recognized the benefits that KM can offer and have thus invested in KM. This paper reports on a survey of these companies. The purpose of the survey was: (1) to examine the importance of KM to UK construction organizations; (2) to investigate the resources used to implement KM strategies; and (3) to identify the main barriers to implementing KM strategies. The survey found that the main reasons for implementing a KM strategy was the need to share the tacit knowledge of key employees and to disseminate best practice. Also, significant resources in terms of staff time and money were being invested in KM, but the main barrier to implementing a KM strategy was the lack of standard work processes.

An integrated framework for concurrent life-cycle design and construction

Abstract There is currently an awareness within the construction industry that integrating the key participants involved in a project, i.e. clients, architects, structural engineers, quantity surveyors, mechanical/electrical services engineers, contractors and materials suppliers, as opposed to the traditionally fragmented approach, generally leads to more successful projects. This paper hence aims to enunciate an integrated framework which supports the concurrent development of a project and the associated construction process. It examines the current status quo in the construction industry and the need for change. The paper also enumerates key requirements for the new integrated model and concludes with an elucidation of the concurrent life-cycle design and construction framework and model.

Collaborative design of structures using intelligent agents

The construction industry has a long tradition of collaborative working between the members of a construction project team. At the design stage, this has traditionally been based on physical meetings between representatives of the principal design disciplines. To aid these meetings, the information and communications technologies that are currently available have been utilised. These have yielded some success but are hampered by the problems posed by the use of heterogeneous software tools and the lack of effective collaboration tools that are necessary to collapse the time and distance constraints, within which increasingly global design teams work. In particular, there are very few tools available to support distributed asynchronous collaboration. Distributed artificial intelligence, which is commonly implemented in the form of intelligent agents, offers considerable potential for the development of such tools. This paper examines some of the issues associated with the use of distributed artificial intelligence systems within the construction industry. It describes the potential for the use of agent technology in collaborative design and then goes on to present the key features of an agent-based system for the collaborative design of portal frame structures. An example is presented to demonstrate the working and benefits of the prototype system, which makes a significant contribution by allowing for peer to peer negotiation between the design agents.

STEPS: a knowledge management maturity roadmap for corporate sustainability

Purpose – The paper seeks to focus on the role of knowledge management in promoting corporate sustainability in the construction industry context. It proposes a maturity roadmap – STEPS to facilitate the implementation of a knowledge management strategy.Design/methodology/approach – Two research methods were used. The first consisted of a postal questionnaire sent to the top 170 UK construction firms consisting of engineering design and construction contractor firms. The organisations were selected because they were considered the most influential organisations in the UK construction sector. The second research method involved 28 case study interviews with eight construction firms to investigate their approach to knowledge management and performance improvement. The results of the questionnaire survey and the case studies were used to develop the STEPS maturity roadmap.Findings – The paper found that knowledge management is inextricably linked to corporate sustainability, but a methodical approach is requ...

Electronic commerce in construction—trends and prospects

There is growing interest in the conduct of business transactions by electronic means through the Internet and/or dedicated networks; this is often referred to as electronic commerce. This paper reviews developments in electronic commerce, with a particular focus on its applicability and uptake within the construction industry. Electronic commerce business models are reviewed and the enablers and barriers to their uptake in the construction sector presented. The paper concludes with future trends in electronic commerce and the need for construction organisations to make the necessary investments that will enable them to take advantage of these.

A Knowledge Transfer Framework: the PFI context

The UKs Private Finance Initiative market is predicted to rise to over £8 billion a year and there are indications of growing opportunities. PFI creates a long‐term income stream and provides valuable opportunities for portfolio diversification. PFI has evolved at a fast pace and the momentum is set to continue. However, there are major challenges facing construction organisations. These include the lack of PFI experts, longer negotiation periods and tight time schedules to deliver large‐scale schemes, high levels of investment and risks involved and limited knowledge transfer between PFI projects. Concerns over the level of knowledge sharing have prompted the development and evaluation of a Knowledge Transfer Framework that encourages construction organisations to transfer PFI knowledge between projects. It achieves this by building on a questionnaire survey of PFI clients and construction companies, case studies of companies involved in PFI, and research workshops to validate the framework developed.