Enterprise resource planning (ERP) system solutions are currently in high demand by both manufacturing and service organisations because they provide a tightly integrated solution to an organisation's information system needs. During the last decade, ERP systems have received a significant amount of attention from researchers and practitioners from a variety of functional disciplines. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the research literature (1990‐2003) concerning ERP systems is presented. The literature is further classified and the major outcomes of each study are addressed and analysed. Following a comprehensive review of the literature, proposals for future research are formulated to identify topics where fruitful opportunities exist.

Enterprise resource planning: An integrative review

PROJECT MA NA GEMENT: A SYSTEMS A PPROA CH TO PLA NNING, SCHEDULING, A ND CONTROLLING To download Project Manag ement: A Systems A pproach to Planning , Scheduling , and Controlling PDF, please access the link under and save the file or gain access to additional information which might be have conjunction with Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling ebook.

Project Management: A Systems Approach To Planning, Scheduling and Controlling (Book)

The fact that people play key roles in nearly all aspects of construction suggests that effective construction research requires proper application of social science research methods. This is particularly true for researchers studying topics that involve human actions or behavior in construction processes, such as leadership, innovation, and planning. In social science research, no single method of data collection survey, experiment, participant observation, or unobtrusive research is ideal. Each method has inherent strengths and weak- nesses. Careful attention to the methodological ABCs of the design process, as discussed here, can enhance the validity and reliability of a given study. Combining quantitative and qualitative approaches in research design and data collection, however, should be considered whenever possible. Such mixed-methods research is more expensive than a single method approach, in terms of time, money, and energy, but improves the validity and reliability of the resulting data and strengthens causal inferences by providing the opportunity to observe data convergence or divergence in hypothesis testing. DOI: 10.1061/ASCECO.1943-7862.0000026 CE Database subject headings: Research; Methodology; Measurement; Data analysis; Construction management. Author keywords: Research methods; Mixed methods; Social science; Concept measurement; Data analysis.

Mixed Method Research: Fundamental Issues of Design, Validity, and Reliability in Construction Research

The association among project manager's leadership style, teamwork and project success

Off-site construction has gained more attention from both academia and industry during the last few years. Modular construction is one of the most efficient off-site construction methods. In this method, different parts (components) of a building are designed and fabricated off the construction site in factories as one or more modules, and then they are assembled on site to form the final product. Studies have shown that the modular building technique is applicable to different types of buildings, including residential, commercial, educational, and medical. Environmental performance is one of the most significant dimensions leading to sustainability. Since buildings account for a substantial portion of environmental burdens, the main focus of this study is on the environmental performance of modular facilities over their life cycle. This article also presents a comprehensive critical literature review on the benefits and challenges of the modular construction method, compared to its conventional counterpart. It is concluded that, on average, modular buildings have been shown to provide a better life cycle performance, for example a building׳s energy performance, among others. Further life cycle research, considering all the dimensions of sustainable construction, is recommended in order to develop a robust picture of the sustainability of modular construction.

Life cycle performance of modular buildings: A critical review

This study develops an automated site layout system for construction temporary facilities (TFs). The system, ArcSite, including a geographic information system (GIS) integrated with database management systems (DBMSs) is a new tool to assist designers in identifying suitable areas to locate TFs. ArcSite consists of knowledge specific to construction site layout, TF databases, Arc/Info databases, and algorithms for integrating and automating TF layout design. The system proposes a method, the knowledge acquisition form, to systematically acquire and interpret experts' knowledge and experience in site planning. Using the concept of searching by elimination, the system develops a heuristic approach to model the process of human decision-making and generate the potential sites for each TF. Through both qualitative and quantitative modeling of facility relationships, an objective function called proximity index is developed to determine the optimal site of each TF. ArcSite demonstrates that GIS is a promising ...

ArcSite: enhanced GIS for construction site layout

This study compares and analyzes the relationship of design-build (DB) and design-bid-build (DBB) project delivery methods with performance metrics of large highway projects (>$50 million). Project performance is measured in cost, schedule, and change orders on these two types of highway projects. This study also investigates associations between project characteristics (input variables) and project performance (output variables) of large highway projects. The performance comparison methodology used here is derived from work done on a Texas Department of Transportation study of the State Highway 130 Project. The study results show that the construction speed and project delivery speed per lane mile (or lane kilometer) of DB projects were significantly faster than that of DBB projects for this sample. The study also showed that out of 21 inputs analyzed, 14 inputs have statistically significant associations with one or more outputs of these projects.

Performance Comparison of Large Design-Build and Design-Bid-Build Highway Projects

Modularization is a well-established technique that can improve the construction industry by exporting a portion of site-based work to fabrication shops. However, its application in the ind...

Critical Success Factors and Enablers for Optimum and Maximum Industrial Modularization

Constructability is the optimum use of construction knowledge and experience in planning, engineering, procurement and field operations to achieve overall objectives. Seven concepts for improving constructability during the engineering/procurement phase of a project are presented and analyzed. A limited number of specific applications of each concept are also presented. The concepts promote construction‐driven schedules, simplified design configurations, standardization of elements, and module/preassembly designs which facilitate fabrication, transport, and installation. Concepts also address the accessibility of manpower, materials, and equipment; design modifications to facilitate construction in adverse weather; and specification improvements.

Constructability Concepts for Engineering and Procurement

Constructability is defined as the ability of project conditions to enable the optimal utilization of construction resources. Constructability improvements may heighten the construction‐sensitivity of designs, render the communication of engineering information as more effective, optimize construction‐originated construction techniques, increase the effectiveness of construction management policies, improve vendor/subcontractor services, or identify needs for designer‐constructor communication during the project. Constructability improvement ideas collected on a large refinery expansion project are analyzed for content, and classification frequencies are observed. Analysis of engineering rework exposes the causes and costs of rework that occurs as a result of constructability problems.

James T. O'Connor

Papers

ArcSite: enhanced GIS for construction site layout

Performance Comparison of Large Design-Build and Design-Bid-Build Highway Projects

Critical Success Factors and Enablers for Optimum and Maximum Industrial Modularization

Constructability Concepts for Engineering and Procurement

Industrial Project Constructability Improvement