A PROCEDURE FOR IDENTIFYING RESEARCH POTENTIALS IN CONSTRUCTION

INTRODUCTION

For years the primary if not sole aim of construction education has been to supply the industry with graduates trained to assume leadership roles in management and production. New problems and demands in construction and a change in the academic environment have necessitated the addition of research as a secondary mission. Because construction has been an applied discipline, funds for research have been very limited. To fulfill the new mission, however, research topics and fund sources must be identified. The purpose of this paper is to outline and apply a procedure to identify possible topics and fund sources.

The procedure is (1) to review current literature to identify major problems in the construction industry, (2) break down the problems into their component parts, (3) use the components to suggest possible topics for research, and (4) identify the segments of the industry affected to contact as possible sources of funds.

LITERATURE REVIEW

The first step in the procedure is to review current periodicals for problems in the construction industry. The review should include national, regional, and local trade journals, business magazines, newsletters, government publications, and academic journals. A partial list of publications to consider includes: Engineering News-Record, Corporate Design & Realty, Constructor, Builder & Contractor, Architectural Record, Building Design & Construction, Facilities Design & Management, US News and World Report, CM Advisor, local ACC, ABC, and AIA newsletters, Construction Review, The American Professional Constructor, and Cost Engineer.

A brief review of some of these sources found a number of possibilities for research. Recent issues of Engineering News-Record reported several problems that have research potential. "Feds may ante up for construction R&D" reports a recommendation that the federal government fund research in productivity.[5,44] "Women take on construction" chronicles the success that three women hive had in construction but leaves the feeling that there's more work to be done.[9,24] "Costs are rising as protectionism gains ground" opens the question of what and how much of an effect protectionism will really have on the industry. [4,28] "Construction tops injury list" reports the high injury rate on the job site suggesting work to be done on job site safety programs. [3,69] More problems were found in Constructor. "Construction Economics: A Turnaround In Industrial Construction?" analyzes the demand for industrial construction suggesting a need for demand forecasting in industrial construction.[2,58] "The Cost of Preference Programs" reports the effects that special preference programs are having on cost, competition and equitable contract awards in California.[6,45] "News & Notes: The Next Generation" in Builder & Contractor lists a problem in planning for succession in construction firms indicating the need for a long range planning program. [7,6] "US Vacancy Rate Continues to Rise" in Corporate Design & Realty points out that the office space market is overbuilt suggesting the need for demand forecasting in commercial construction. [8,26] And, "Practice: Why are architects on the defensive?" in Architectural Record states that Architects are perceived as being poor managers of the financial aspects of a project.[1,41]

PROBLEM COMPONENTS

The second step in the procedure is to break down the problems into parts. As an example, one of the problems listed above is the perception that Architects are not good at managing the financial aspects of a project. Financial matters to be considered in Architectural project management include budgeting, design cost control, estimating, funding, feasibility, life cycle costs, and construction cost control. Also, having problems in these areas suggests a corresponding problem in education. So, a partial list of the components of the problem include budgeting, design cost control, estimating, funding, feasibility, life cycle costs, construction cost control, and education.

POTENTIAL RESEARCH TOPICS

The third step in the procedure is to analyze the problem components for research topics. The example problem being current performance in controlling project financial matters, a necessary starting point would be surveys to determine what methods are currently being used and what success is being experienced in their application. Each survey would cover one or more of the components. Using the survey as a basis, the existing methods could then be modified or new ones suggested. And, new courses and training programs could be developed. Other possible topics include: the adaptation of European design and project cost control systems to the American market; the accuracy of proprietary cost data and estimating systems; the use of current demand forecasting methods in feasibility studies; the development of a cost forecasting system; computer usage in estimating, design cost control and construction cost control for Architects; systems of record keeping and submittal review to identify cost savings and to expedite projects; and estimating methods and data sources for change review.

POTENTIAL SOURCES OF FUNDS

The fourth step in the procedure is to identify the segments of the industry affected by the problem to contact as possible sources of research funds. The areas affected in the example are the design professions and end users. The design professions include Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Management. Such organizations as the American Institute of Architects and the Construction Management Association of America are potential sources of funds. End users include owners and developers, facilities management groups and government. Building owner and manager associations, the International Facilities Management Association, and government agencies are potential sources of funds. In each case national, regional, state and local chapters might fund research projects, and individual firms might be interested in developing programs for their own use.

SUMMARY

Changes in the industry and the academic environment necessitate the addition of research and publishing to the goals of construction education. A procedure to identify research topics and potential sources of funds to meet these new goals is: 1) to conduct a literature review to identify major problems in the industry, 2) break down the problem into component parts, 3) use the parts to suggest topics for research, and 4) determine which segments of the industry are affected by the problem to approach for research funding. As an example, the procedure was applied to the problem that Architects have with the perception of their financial management skills. A number of research topics and potential fund sources were identified.

Because construction has been an applied discipline, the industry is not accustomed to our helping to solve their problems. It is necessary for us to take the initiative in seeking out these opportunities. However, the opportunities are there.

REFERENCES

1. Caplan, Joan. "Practice: Why are architects on the defensive?," Architectural Record, April, 1985.

2. "Construction Economics: A turnaround in industrial construction?," Constructor, Vol. LXVIII, No. 10, October, 1986.

3. "Construction tops injury list," Engineering News-Record, Vol. 217, No. 22, November 27, 1986.

4. "Costs are rising as protectionism gains ground, "Engineering News-Record, Vol. 217, No. 22, November 27, 1986.

5. "Feds may ante up for construction R&D," Engineering News-Record, Vol. 218, No.2, January 8, 1987.

6. "The cost of preference programs," Constructor, Vol. LXVIII, No. 10, October, 1986.

7. "News & Notes: The Next Generation," Builder & Contractor, Vol. 34, No. 8, August, 1986.

8. "U. S. vacancy rate continues to rise," Corporate Design & Realty, Vol. 5, No. 10-, November/December, 1986.

9. "Women take on construction," Engineering News-Record, Vol. 217, No. 16, October 16, 1986.