Process oriented information management in construction

The construction industry is often accused of being fragmented and inefficient in nature due to the lack of continuity and repetitive behaviour in projects. For many years information technology has been put forward as a solution. But, despite the potentials, little gains have been harvested by the development of computerised information systems (IS). The overall aim of this research is to determine if a more accessible and clearly described housing development process could be enabled by an information system, which, in itself, could improve both individual and project (group) performance. Two research questions are being put forward; first, will a process-oriented IS positively impact on the performance of project managers and, in particular, on the performance of project groups? Second, how important is a process-oriented information management process for the success of the IS? To answer these questions an action research approach with large influences of survey research has been adopted. The research consists of two phases; a process orientation within a largeSwedish housing development company and a survey of project managers' attitudes towards a new process-oriented IS also including a study of dependencies found among variables of information system success (ISS). To enable a verification of the success of the IS an assessment instrument - hypothesis model - for evaluating ISS was developed. The assessment instrument was built on DeLone and McLean's (1992) ISS model and extended to include measures of information management process quality (process quality). The hypothesis model was then tested empirically with a questionnaire survey. A statistical test was also performed to test the hypothesised relationships of the augmented ISS model. In summarising the findings of the data analysis, it is evident that the new IS received unexpected support from the respondents. The findings also indicate that the collected and analysed data show support for numerous of the hypothesised relationships of ISS. Conclusions are drawn that confirm the presence of a process quality measure for assessing ISS. From a practitioner's perspective, this research suggests a course of action for process oriented organisational development. It also indicates beneficiary use of a process focus in IS development.