Graham Brewer

Integration of information and communication technology: Influence of the cultural environment

Purpose – Although the deployment of information and communication technology (ICT) in the construction industry is widespread recent research indicates that the surrounding contextual issues hinder its successful application in many project settings. This paper aims to develop a framework for the analysis of organisational culture in respect of ICT implementation across an organisation in the construction industry.Design/methodology/approach – An re‐analysis of critical success factors (CSF) for ICT integration, identified through data from a Delphi study of industry experts and a questionnaire survey of ICT users, using Martins three‐perspective framework applying both the functional and non‐functional approaches to cultural analysis was conducted.Findings – The research revealed the theoretical dimensions and properties of organisational culture that influence CSFs for ICT integration in construction projects teams. This paper concludes by highlighting the influence of the organisations culture, mani...

Using a case study approach to identify critical success factors for alliance contracting

Purpose – There has been a significant increase in the use of relationship contracting in the global construction industry, with strategies such as Partnering, Alliancing and Public-Private Partnerships all used. These approaches were introduced to the Australian construction industry in the 1990s in an attempt to overcome the adversarial nature of traditional contracting methods. The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors that influence the successful implementation of Project Alliancing by means of a case study approach focusing on the procurement of a large water treatment plant. The research findings identify critical success factors (CSFs) both from literature and the case study project. Design/methodology/approach – The research traces the origins of Alliancing and identifies CSFs by reviewing literature and analysing a current case study project. The paper first identifies CSFs on a global scale by establishing a theoretical framework of CSFs and then compares this to the case study projec...

Trust and the Project Management Body of Knowledge

Purpose – This paper aims to identify the extent to which dimensions of trust are reflected in the functional description of the role of a project manager as outlined in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK).Design/methodology/approach – The literature is used to identify trust dimensions that have the potential to impact on the conduct of a project. These are then assembled into a theoretical framework, which is then used to drive a thematic analysis of the project managers role as described in PMBOK. Similarities are confirmed, and absences identified and explained in the context of the literature.Findings – The fourth edition of PMBOK is the first to make overt reference to the concept of trust. Detailed analysis of the text reveals that although certain trust dimensions are recognised they are dealt with in general terms, as desirable characteristics within the project environment rather than specific facilitators or actions in relation to the conduct of project.Practical implications – PM...

The urban environment and sustainable ageing: critical issues and assessment indicators

Later life is a diverse experience but for some it is associated with a variety of impairments that impact on quality of life. Attention to date has focused on supporting ageing in place through modification to the home environment to compensate for increasing levels of impairment. This paper explores a further link between later life and the environment beyond the home. In doing so, the paper argues that the disabling impact of the urban environment on older people should be an essential consideration in the urban sustainability debate. A multi-dimensional framework combining sustainable development and ageing in place criteria is used to test the extent to which three sustainable urban environment assessment tools address the issue. The findings suggest that the capacity of an urban environment to support ageing in place is not being assessed as an integral element of a sustainable urban environment. Identifying factors that influence healthy later life will allow the inclusion of a later-life perspective in future urban sustainability planning and assessment models.

Innovation and attitude: Mapping the profile of ICT decision‐makers in architectural, engineering and construction firms

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report upon a doctoral thesis within the context of temporary project organisations that was driven by the question: “what really influences decision makers when considering whether or not to adopt an innovation?” This paper describes the philosophy, methodology and findings of the study, and illustrates the usefulness of the findings for application in construction and other project‐driven industries.Design/methodology/approach – The attitude of decision makers is discernible in their behaviour, which is an observable phenomenon. It has been observed from outside using a Delphi study of “experts”, providing an etic perspective, and reported upon first‐hand through multiple in‐depth interviews with “experienced practitioners”, thereby providing an emic counterpoint. Both perspectives have been further abstracted to develop a synthesised model of the attitudinal profile of information and communication technology (ICT) decision makers in the construction industry.F...

Deconstructing dynamic capabilities: the role of cognitive and organizational routines in the innovation process

A better understanding of innovation processes might lead to productivity improvements. By focusing on a specific, economically relevant sector (construction) and on a specific type of firm (small to medium-sized enterprises, SMEs), the dynamic capabilities framework is extended by clarifying the roles of cognitive and organizational routines in organizational innovation processes. Insights generated from an in-depth case study of a medium-sized construction firm reveal that dynamic capabilities might diminish the relevance of an explicit innovation focus, because such capabilities have the potential to trigger emergent, incremental innovations. Accordingly, for construction SMEs, a development, rather than research, mode of innovation appears relatively more critical, as manifested in conscious cognitive routines and functional/integrative organizational routines.

Cultural consciousness and the effective implementation of information and communication technology

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss how culture, influenced by the project setup and contextual issues, impacts on information and communication technology (ICT) engagement, through a multiple perspective approach to cultural assessment. A “cultural lens” is used to understand the level of ICT engagement in project organisations.Design/methodology/approach – Cultural analysis (CA) is employed as the overarching research methodology. The CA investigates the conflicts between the “espoused values” and “actual beliefs” of members to understand culture. A pre‐existing CA framework with established “espoused values” for ICT implementation is used in this study. Ethnographic interview in a case study setup is employed to extract actual cultural beliefs. These beliefs are then analysed through the CA framework to explain cultural environment and its impact on ICT implementation.Findings – The ICT‐related behaviour of the project team members is contextual to a project environment. This implies that...

A Conceptual Governance Framework for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Integration

Climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) have similar targets and goals in relation to climate change and related risks. The integration of CCA in core DRR operations is crucial to provide simultaneous benefits for social systems coping with challenges posed by climate extremes and climate change. Although state actors are generally responsible for governing a public issue such as CCA and DRR integration, the reform of top-down governing modes in neoliberal societies has enlarged the range of potential actors to include non state actors from economic and social communities. These new intervening actors require in-depth investigation. To achieve this goal, the article investigates the set of actors and their bridging arrangements that create and shape governance in CCA and DRR integration. The article conducts a comprehensive literature review in order to retrieve main actors and arrangements. The article summarizes actors and arrangements into a conceptual governance framework that can be used as a backdrop for future research on the topic. However, this framework has an explorative form, which must be refined according to site- and context-specific variables, norms, or networks. Accordingly, this article promotes an initial application of the framework to different contexts. Scholars may adopt the framework as a roadmap with which to corroborate the existence of a theoretical and empirical body of knowledge on governance of CCA and DRR integration.

Extending Building Information Models into Game Engines

The use of detailed building plans and models is common in the construction management domain. Also there is increasing interest in the reuse of such models to realize 3D interactive virtual environments to aid model refinement and for use as training environments, for example virtual site visits. Unfortunately, the development of interactive virtual environments is both time consuming and technically difficult. One successful approach is the reuse of gaming technology to provide the underlying virtual environment and to allow developers to focus on importing appropriate content, e.g. building geometry and textures. Building Information Modelling (BIM) provides a rich source of building data and is an ideal basis for constructing realistic virtual environments. This paper overviews the conversion from BIM to game engines and specifically from the BIM tool Revit to the Unity3D game engine in a case study.

IT Uptake and Integration Across a Temporary Project Organisation in the Construction Industry

The case study, funded by the Co-operative Research Centre for Construction Innovation (CRC-CI) in Australia, examines the adoption and integration of IT to facilitate supply-chain activities by a temporary project organisation that was assembled to complete a portion of a major construction project in New Zealand. It consisted of a number of consultants, suppliers, and contractors from three different countries operating in a fourth country, which delivered the major architectural feature for an award-winning building. The case study explores both the interplay between IT and its various users, and its impact on business relationships in an industry traditionally characterised by its litigious, short-term, project focus.