Management information flow in construction companies

The construction industry has been increasingly recognizing the need for more effective exchange of information between project participants. Not only have the manual systems failed to satisfy this need but the computer packages which have sprung up have also not allowed adequately for such communication. Integration of project information can optimize the operations of the industry as they exist currently. An even more promising but less immediate benefit of such integration is that it will form the necessary foundation for tools that advanced technology has the potential to produce. Such tools include simulation systems, knowledge-based systems and robotics which are very much in their infancy. A necessary step towards achieving the desired integration is to map out the characteristics of the flow of the information. This article analyses the flow of information among the management functions of the construction contractor.