Path Model of IT Enhanced Project Information Management in Construction: Development and Implementation

Abstract

Information technologies (IT) are providing construction firms with new opportunities for enhancing communication, collaboration and information management processes. Some firms have successfully grasped the opportunities enabled by IT enhanced information management systems to improve competitiveness and profitability. However, not all proactive construction businesses have been satisfied with their IT investments, largely due to their limited ability to evaluate the degree of IT-induced valued added to operational and business performance. This paper builds upon recently published work by the author, by empirically investigating the link between 'Construct IT' Balanced Scorecard (BSC) perspectives, utilising structural equation modeling. Furthermore, the validity of developed path equations for predicting IT-induced business performance and strategic competitiveness is reinforced through benchmarking studies, conducted on two large infrastructure projects constructed in Australia, where innovative web-based collaboration platforms were implemented. The findings support that firms which provide reliable IT systems will achieve higher IT-induced performance improvement in the operational, strategic competitiveness and benefit perspectives.