The roles of information and communication technology (ICT) systems in construction supply chain management and barriers to their implementation

Abstract

Advances in information and communications technology (ICT) have impacted on supply chain management in various application scenarios, including the construction industry. Previous studies have shown that the use of appropriate ICT systems has the potential of integrating the plethora of supply chain participants, leading to successful accomplishment of end objectives. Nonetheless, these studies have also revealed the existence of certain unique elements in the ICT systems that do not gel or work in unison with other elements, thereby causing disruption to the entire construction industry supply chain mechanism. This paper is a review of past literature on supply chain management spanning the years 2000-2009. It focuses on the construction industry and delves into the characteristics of ICT systems that have resulted in successful integration and collaboration in the industry’s supply chain. It reveals that ICT infrastructure is a double-edged sword that both facilitated and impeded the smooth implementation of a supply chain system in the construction industry. Key words: Information and communication technology (ICT) systems, integration, construction supply chain, collaboration.