Conclusions and improved initial research question

BC process innovation should focus on a substantial increase of the information and knowledge sharing capacity of the industry at large. Unlike industries such as automotive and shipbuilding, BC projects are usually temporary joint ventures of companies (Virtual Enterprises) that realise a unique project on a unique construction site. Information and knowledge developed is in general not systematically stored for re-use in later projects. Goal of this research is to investigate a possible approach that can help to increase BC's capacity to (electronically) communicate and co-operate.

It seems likely that increasing BC's computer assisted information and knowledge sharing capacity can help to change the current static nature of the process into a more dynamic structure that is much more tolerant for change and does not require early agreement about all the details that cannot really be over-seen beforehand. In a dynamic system, shortening and strengthening the feedback loop is instrumental for improving the efficiency of the whole system. This does not diminish the need for solving the social and juridical sides of the problem, but establishes ICT implementation as a sub-problem of like magnitude.

Improved research question

The first research question formulated in chapter 1 was the question how new instruments can help the BC industry to increase its value adding performance.

To scope the question further, the research is limited to new instruments that help to improve ICT-supported information and knowledge sharing between all stakeholders, especially in the various chains. The hypothesis is that improved information and knowledge logistics reduces the costs of failure and increases the value of the output of supply and knowledge chains.