Information Technology in Construction Operations: Social Media a Viable Alternative of Information Management for a Small Construction Business
Date
2015-04-29
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Abstract
This thesis addresses the construction industry with strict concern towards small construction related establishments in America. The author expands on the subject of an affordable Information-Technology (IT) solution that is viable in handling the information management during construction related practices. In this study social media becomes the proposed IT solution to the industry because of the functions it enables, and as well the affordability. Proposing social media leads the researcher to analyze if managing information is a technically feasible practice via social media.
In order to understand if social media is technically feasible in handling construction operations’ information management, qualitative analysis and case studies using the most appropriate social media platform to perform construction activities have been carried out. The most appropriate social media platform was chosen by cross analyzing their functional capabilities. Then case studies were achieved through the chosen social media Google+. These case studies allowed the researcher to discover similar functions in social media that could execute construction operations’ information management activities such as sharing documents, creating schedules and monitoring work – also constraints of social media such as generating word documents and spreadsheets are highlighted.
The purpose of this thesis is so to propose an affordable information management alternative for use within the construction industry. It is imperative that every construction professional have the ability to effectively manage information throughout the duration of their business. And if Project Management Information Systems (PMIS) software – and software alike - remains too costly then a practical solution could rely in using social media for smaller construction related businesses.
It is with this purpose that guides the researcher to understand if applying social media to information management in the construction industry is technically feasible. Social media has made it easier to create, capture, manage and share information among several users and groups. The aim of this research is to study similar capabilities in social media that can effectively perform construction activities. After determining what activities can and cannot be completed, several case studies – using social media to carry out virtual construction activities – will be used to validate study. The technical successes and constraints are summarized in the chapter IV conclusion of this thesis.
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Construction, Operations, Technology, Information, Management