Implementation of web-based team collaboration tools in the architectural, engineering and construction industry

The architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is constantly seeking ways to shorten project cycle time, improve product quality and reduce total product costs. Improved communication and collaboration between all stakeholders in a project can be a key to these improvements. Web-based team collaboration tools (WBTCT) are newly available to the AEC industry to provide the framework for improved communication and collaboration among all team members. This report explores web-based team collaboration tools, and focuses on strategic, managerial and tactical issues involved in the selection and implementation of these tools in the architectural, engineering, and construction industry.; The strategic component focuses on the overall acceptance of process and technical change within the organization. The managerial component of the process revolves around the decision to adopt a WBTCT, which product to adopt, and the global implementation of the new technology within an organization. The tactical component focuses on the implementation of technology at the project level.; Two case studies of the selection and implementation of a web-based team collaboration tool for light industrial design-build projects are presented. Lessons learned from the case studies form the basis of this report. The major goal of this report is to provide information to the small and medium sized AEC organization regarding the selection and implementation of web-based team collaboration tools.