Impact of information technologies on project management functions

The objective of this study is to assess information technologies' (IT) impact on the project management functions of the building construction process in the next 15 years. It is proposed to build a model to forecast the impact of major breakthrough developments in ITs (Internet, artificial intelligence, CAD/CAE, etc.) on the maturity levels of project management functions (quality management, time management, integration management, etc.) of the organizations involved in a building project. A modified Delphi approach was used over the Internet to elicit expert opinion. Three types of information were collected. First, the forecasted maturity levels of project management functions (PM functions). Second, the forecasted probabilities of occurrence of major breakthrough developments in ITs were obtained from information technologists. Third, the assessments of the cross-impacts between the variables of the model were obtained from relevant respective parties involved in the building process. The data collected were subjected to a multi-level cross-impact analysis, which is a method typically used for long-term forecasting in the financial markets. The results of the study show that major breakthrough developments in some ITs impact the maturity level of PM functions in different magnitudes in different phases. In the time horizon of this study, experts do not foresee the occurrence of full maturity levels of PM functions in the construction industry. Delphi results indicate an increasing pace of technological innovation in some ITs. Results suggest two types of IT impact on PM functions; direct (tangible) impacts and secondary (intangible) impacts. Sensitivities of the maturity levels of PM functions are summarized. Sensitivity analyses show that major breakthrough developments in single ITs do not have significant impacts on the maturity levels of PM functions. This software may serve as a planning as well as a learning tool for construction professionals, students, and construction managers in particular.