Analysis and Comparison of Role-Based Interorganizational Workflows for a Construction Project

Jianlin Jiang,Yan Zhou,Jianguo Chen,Rongyue Zheng

doi:10.3390/app9183667

Jianlin Jiang, Yan Zhou + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/app9183667

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Journal: Applied sciences	Publication Date: Sep 4, 2019
License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Tongji University, Ningbo University

Abstract

The implementation process of construction projects is an iterative process of continuous modification and improvement among participant organizations. Traditional workflow analysis methods for a single organization are not suitable for the analysis of such implementation processes. Therefore, an interorganizational workflow analysis method based on organizational roles and associated with their collaborative relationships is required. In this study, a role-based interorganizational workflow model for participant organizations is developed, in which it is assumed that interoperability has a loosely coupled form for temporary multi-organizations. The Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) is applied to determine the parameters of the correlation between interorganizational workflows, which includes downstream sensitivity and the probability of change. Furthermore, according to workflow interactions between organizations, an analysis model of interorganizational workflow is developed by using the Design Iteration Model for reference to analyze the time performance of participant organizations. Additionally, two forms of interorganizational workflow are compared and analyzed. Some suggestions are put forward to improve interorganizational workflow management and reduce the total time taken to complete the workflow processing of each organization (T) and the total time spent on the interorganizational workflow process (effort, E). This research may help strengthen interorganizational workflow management and enrich the workflow modeling theory.

Highlights

Construction projects are carried out by temporary teams of heterogeneous organizations called temporary multi-organizations (TMOs) [1,2,3,4]
Traditional workflow analysis methods, which are suitable for single organizations, are difficult to adapt to TMO ecology. Such adaptation requires an interorganizational workflow analysis method, which is based on organizational roles and associated with the collaborative relationships between organizations
This paper studies the interorganizational workflow of TMOs from the perspective of organizational roles and their interaction

Summary

Introduction

Construction projects are carried out by temporary teams of heterogeneous organizations called temporary multi-organizations (TMOs) [1,2,3,4]. Many participants from different organizations should cooperate temporarily [5]. Such projects involve many participating organizations, such as the owner, designer, constructor, supplier, general contractor, subcontractor, operator, and more. Organizational complexity in projects is the degree of operational interdependency and interaction between the project organizational elements [6,7]. The works of different participant organizations in a construction project are constrained and conditioned by each other. With mutual restriction and the interaction between many factors, complex workflow relationships are formed among organizations

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Discussion

Conclusion