The improvement of teamworking through the exploitation of IT: Lessons from the construction, manufacturing and finance sectors

Based on an EPSRC sponsored research project that focuses on the utilization and exploitation of IT for teamworking in construction, manufacturing and the financial sectors, the research aims to assess the degree to which IT is or is not exploited for teamworking, and what lessons the construction industry can learn from other industrial sectors. The construction industry is aware of its position regarding IT and teamworking, and is willing to accept that research needs to be done and recommendations taken on board, but there is a real fear that IT is being introduced too fast and is becoming overused and overwhelming. The notion that IT can aid or encourage teamworking is confusing to some. Attention will be given, in this paper, to how this research can be put to use; how will the research be received; and what issues will it throw up for further debate and research? It is vital that companies are aware of the most frequently used technologies for teamworking. The industry must pay attention to cultural and structural variables, when introducing and attempting to exploit IT for teamworking. Vast amounts of money are being spent on hardware and software, but little is being done to ensure that this new IT orientation fits in with the actual culture of the organization. This leads to the major recommendation of the research – that directed training on IT for teamworking is vital if the uptake and full exploitation of IT is to be achieved. Finally, the paper recommends that there is ample scope for further studies to be conducted in this area.