Collaborative engineering issues and challenges: Insights from a reconstruction project case

Collaborative engineering has been discussed as a solution for complex technological projects for a long time. Still, adoption of this management technique remains limited. The paper identifies theoretical issues in understanding and modeling collaborative work practices and respective coordination related challenges in the project management of collaborative engineering which are derived from the case of a reconstruction process. Evidences from the case show that high complexities, unforeseeable uncertainties associated with innovation and user involvement and high number of interdependencies are major drivers towards intensive collaboration within the construction project. The analysis of the cases also shows that traditional project management is not sufficient to predict the outcome of the project reliably where the modularity can not be achieved in advance within the course of project. The results can be used to achieve a smoother collaborative engineering phase through innovative technical developments.

[1]  K. Weick,et al.  Collective mind in organizations: Heedful interrelating on flight decks. , 1993 .

[2]  Richard Olsson,et al.  Subcontract coordination in construction , 1998 .

[3]  Paul E. McMahon Virtual Project Management: Software Solutions for Today and the Future , 2000 .

[4]  K. Eisenhardt Building theories from case study research , 1989, STUDI ORGANIZZATIVI.

[5]  K. T. Odusami,et al.  Perceptions of Construction Professionals Concerning Important Skills of Effective Project Leaders , 2002 .

[6]  D. Dougherty,et al.  Team play: Heedful interrelating as the boundary for innovation , 2004 .

[7]  J. Alberto Espinosa,et al.  Explicit versus implicit coordination mechanisms and task dependencies: One size does not fit all. , 2004 .

[8]  Chimay J. Anumba,et al.  Integration of visualisation and mobile technologies in construction , 2006 .

[9]  Jeffrey K. Liker,et al.  Modularity as a Strategy for Supply Chain Coordination: The Case of U.S. Auto , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.

[10]  Jean Hartley,et al.  Case study research , 2004 .

[11]  Deborah L. Duarte,et al.  Mastering Virtual Teams , 2000 .

[12]  Pascal Molli,et al.  Implicit or Explicit Coordination of Virtual Teams in Building Design. , 2001 .

[13]  Kevin Crowston,et al.  Competency rallying for technical innovation—The case of the Virtuelle Fabrik , 2008 .

[14]  Bernhard Katzy,et al.  Coordination routines behind knowledge intensive work processes , 2007, 2007 IEEE International Technology Management Conference (ICE).

[15]  Kevin Crowston,et al.  The interdisciplinary study of coordination , 1994, CSUR.

[16]  Abbe Mowshowitz,et al.  Virtual Organization: A Vision of Management in the Information Age , 1994, Inf. Soc..

[17]  John A Scigliano,et al.  Mastering Virtual Teams: Strategies, Tools, and Techniques that Succeed: Deborah L. Duarte and Nancy Tennant Snyder. (2000). 2nd ed., San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 256 pages. ISBN: 0-7879-5589-2W01. US$39.95, includes a CD-ROM , 1999, Internet High. Educ..

[18]  S. Barley,et al.  Bringing Work Back In , 2001 .