(continued from previous page)
Addressing Key Owner Concerns using WPMS / PSWS
1. Improving Coordination, Collaboration and Communication
Use of a web-based project management system improves overall coordination, collaboration and communications through a variety of ways. First, by having a central portal of the most up-to-date project information for all participants to access provides a means for everyone to access whatever is needed to perform their individual responsibilities on the project. Secondly, the ability for WPMS / PSWS participants to retrieve archived historical documents increases their level of understanding the overall project isssues as they arrise and are resolved. Thirdly, project participants can easily see which project team participant is the bottle neck in the system holding up a decision or a vital piece of project information that is needed for continuing forward. This accountability raises the level of peer pressure on all team players and increases their likelihod to stay on top of the situation and provide timely, complete, and more effective coordination, collaboration, and communication.
Using a web-based portal for all project imformation from conceptual stages through construction, occupancy, and maintenance allows project players the opportunity to access and utilize the information that is critical to the functionality of their role on the project. By having open information access on the web-based project management systems it provides the “information users” the right to choose which information is actually vital to their performance and does not place any reliance on other players for a project participant to complete their assigned duties. Simply put, in an open information environment, by making sure that those who have open access to what information is needed to perform readily available to them then any excuses for non-performance are eliminated. In addition, such technolgy is a mechanism for project participants to “meet and interact” with all other members “anytime, anyplace” as long as they have access to an internet browser. This has been recently enhanced by such ASPs as e-Builder, Inc. which have integrated their PSWS’s to be interfaced with Blackberry wireless hand held devices, eliminating the need for a computer internet connection. In addition, projects using PSWS technology typically assign one person with the responsibltiy of being the administrator of the site, thereby delegating the communication and collaboration facilitator responsibilities to a member of the construction management team.
Findings reported by Wesek, Cottrez, and Landler support each of these perspectives persented. Based on the benefit anaylses conducted by Wesek, Cottrez, and Landler Cooper, the reported benefits centered around improved project communications, 24/7 access for all parties, reduction in response time, shortened project durations, increased responsibility and acountability, and improved recordkeeping and documentation (Wesek, Cottrez, and Landler, 2000).
2. Decline in the quality of design drawings and incomplete designs
Having the capability to fully collaborate with all key players (owners, end users, designers, regulatory agencies, contractors, etc) throughout the programming and designs stages will provide for improved drawings as well as provide for designs that better meet the needs and expectations of the end user. Use of a WPMS/PSWS allows for information to be stored and shared as decisions are made and plans revised. Document sharing includes archived “mark-up” versions of the drawings which give participants the ability to propose drawing revisions on a marker board set up with multiple participants reviewing, marking, and communicating all on the same view file. Currently, systems such as e-Builder (www.e-builder.net) can automatically convert over 250 file types into Adobe PDF formats so that the team members do not need the native file or application in order to be involved in the design process. Redlining and comment tools give users access to CAD and 3D designs from the initial concept through complete design and construction documents. Such components give the entire project participant team the interaction and traceability to effectively complete the design process, gaining incorporation of all necessary revisions into the designs as they are being developed on the fly. Even the local building code enforcement agency can be involved in this process identifying and heading off potential delays in final project plan approval and permitting.
3. Architects being held more Accountable
Due to the transparent nature of project collaborative tools, any project team member can view all information at any time. This transparency increases the levels of accountability for architects and engineers throughout the life of the project. In addition, allocations of responsibilities are more easily tracked via the PSWS and the historical document archive system. A web-based project management system shows who and where the responsibility rests when a process flow is disrupted or a participant is not performing adequately. Actually a WPMS / PSWS increases the accountability and responsibility levels of all team members simply because it is easy to track down the root cause for the delays and/or retrieve and review previous documents, designs, and/or communications that have transpired on the project since the beginning. Project team members will be more responsive when they know that others can place peer pressure on them to perform due to the transparent nature of the PSWS. (Wesek, Cottrez, and Landler, 2000)
4. Leadership from Beginning to End
Many firms indicate they are deriving greater benefits from applications that help them connect their partners during all phases of a project including preconstruction, bid management, and plan distribution to full-fledged collaboration tools. (Constructech, 2006)
Online project management systems are now helping owners manage their projects earlier in the process. While contractors initially led the industry in use of these systems, it made sense that most implementations took place during the construction phase. This is not the case anymore since owners have taken the lead. During the planning process, there are multiple parties that need to be involved. Users of the facility convey their requirements to the architectural staff where conceptual designs are produced. Working in parallel are the budget keepers, ensuring that the costs do not exceed a specified amount. (Antevy 2006) This rational also would apply to construction managers or design-builders who can take the leadership by administering the WPMS / PSWS and provide and manage a internet based project management collaboration portal for all participants.
5. Long Term Perspectives
It was found thattrategic related performance appears to be the best predictor of a WPMS /PSWS overall performance. This suggests that the use of web based project management technology is becoming more important to practitioners with respect to long term benefits over the short term benefits. (Nitithamyong and Skibniewski, 2006)
According to the Constructech 2006 National Construction Technology Survey, roughly 56% of respondents indicate that project owners are now requiring contractors to utilize specific technology tools. Following the value chain, approximately 52% of general contractors also require their subcontractors to integrate these technologies (Constructech, 2006).
More recently, contractors, despite their investment in an online system of their own, are being forced to adopt owner’s systems. No doubt, the biggest question facing contractors today is whether to standardize with any one of the online project-management services available in the marketplace. This inevitable trend is growing and requires the contractor to maintain flexibility in how the team manages the project. Proven ability of contractors to adapt to different owner systems will inevitably become a differentiator. (Antevy 2006)
Conclusion
The use of technology has become an everyday affair in business and the use of Internet Based Collaborative Project Management (WPMS / PSWS) is a vital tool for the future of the construction industry. The value- added to understanding the overall performance by the ability to retrace prior steps to see how and why decisions made and actions were taken provides for continuous process improvement. As little as five years ago technology was considered a luxury in construction. In many cases, it was used only by firms wanting to be on the leading edge. Utilization of web based technologies is a more powerful tool that enables contractors to build bigger, better, and faster.
|
