Title:	CONCEPTS FOR e-BUSINESS MODELS IN SME’s WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
Author(s):	Philip J. Weston , Anthony S. Atkins
ISBN:	972-8924-02-X
Editors:	Pedro Isaías and Miguel Baptista Nunes
Year:	2005
Edition:	2
Keywords:	Small / medium sized enterprise (SME), Information Communication Technology (ICT), Competitiveness, Data and information management, Strategy.
Type:	Short Paper
First Page:	45
Last Page:	49
Language:	English
Cover:
Full Contents:	click to dowload
Paper Abstract:	The construction industry is quite unusual in that it is a very fragmented industry comprising large numbers of ‘Micro’ and ‘SME’ businesses managed in the main by artisans. It is also recognised as being very conservative in outlook and reluctant to change its business methods and processes. This inertia to change has initiated several reports being endorsed to identify routes for improving performance in the construction industry, which recommended an improved coordination of project information, and that identified ‘drivers of change’ in the industry sector. The advancement of ICT (Information Communication Technology) has opened up potential for industries to offer better products and services to clients, established mechanisms for developing and creating sustainable competitive advantage for businesses and has also created pressure on industries and businesses to change the way they do business. The convergence of resistance to change and factors forcing change within an industry are important to the survival of any organisation and in particular to SMEs. This working paper sets out to investigate the scope of ICT (Information Communication Technology) uptake amongst SMEs from within the building contractor sector of the construction industry. The work also investigates what drives these firms to change and adopt new technologies, whilst also seeking to identify industry or incumbent barriers to change. The underlying aim of this work being an analysis of the impact of successful implementation of new technologies and e-business models on the competitiveness of the business. The investigation was based on the analysis of data obtained from a questionnaire distributed to some 200 SME Construction businesses located throughout the UK. The framework basis being the DTI International Benchmarking Study.
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