Content area
Abstract
In this investigation the present state of application of management information systems in the civil engineering construction industry is analysed. The purpose is to determine whether a significant relation exists between certain managerial problems and a deficient usage of management information systems by civil engineering contractors.
Contractors operate in an industry in which the resources are scarce and expensive. Therefore the secret of success lies in the optimal usage of the resources. The important factors thereof are managerial ability and the control of the resources. The components of effective management includes inter alia, co-ordination between departments, sufficient information and effective communication channels. Thus both factors depend on feedback of information about the activities in the organization.
A research design consisting of a literature study and personal interviews based on a structured questionnaire was undertaken in the construction industry. The factors of management information systems that were analysed included the macro-economic management information; the composition of the management of the contractors; strategic decision making and the usage of source of strategic information; the relation between managerial responsibilities and the need for information; the information processing function, techniques and reporting. In most cases these analyses were conducted in relation to small, medium and large contractors.
From the results it would seem that the construction industry suffers from direct competition from the public sector. This problem is greatly enhanced by government spending in sympathy with the economic-cycle. Generally speaking the application of management information systems was found to be on an unsatisfactory low level and is insufficient for the effective back-up of decision making.
It is therefore recommended that the construction industry implement an overhead management information system for the co-ordination and planning of the industry. Various recommendations on ways and means for the improvement of the information processing ability of contractors, aimed at the enhancement of their decision making and managerial abilities, have been put forward.
This research contributes to the science of information management and the managerial ability of the construction industry, for which reasons it is particularly significant to the Republic of South Africa.