The Benefits of a Web-based Application for a Construction Company - Assignment Example

EBUS5] [Dr] The Proposal Report 00/00 Summary Internal administration system is a very essential element as far as organizational operations areconcerned. In the contemporary business environment, internal administration systems are regarded as very important precisely because it enables managers to enhance efficiency involved in various tasks that are performed within an organization. Given the fact that organizations conduct a number of projects at one particular time, managing those projects becomes critical and complex. It is here, where the relevance of internal administration system lies, enabling managers to formulate actions plans, strategies and their deadlines accordingly, which in turn helps subordinates to work smoothly. In the modern society where internet has revolutionized the way of conducting communication among individuals, groups and departmental units, web based internal administration system bears a special relevance. This system allows managers to manage projects effectively, thereby ensuring that operational efficiency is achieved with minimal errors. Thus, this research proposal is about one such web based internal administration system and its associated characteristics, which will enable the manager of a construction company to conduct all its business processes very effectively. Table of Contents Summary 2 Table of Contents 3 Introduction and Aims 4 Background to the case study company 4 Purpose 5 Non-Functions Objectives 5 Functions objectives 5 Admin View 5 User View 6 Project specifications 6 Main Features 6 Advantages of the Web Based Communication Program 7 Main future project activities 8 Reference List 9 Introduction and Aims The construction industry throughout the world is splintered due to involvement of many stakeholders and phases in a construction project (Yi and Hwang, 2003). As a result of this fragmentation, construction companies have faced number of well documented problems with information processing and communication (Maurer, et al., 2000; Thorpe and Mead, 2001). In addition to that, fragmentation has also been largely responsible for creation of adversarial relationships between parties involved in a particular project (Alshawi and Ingirige, 2003). This fragmentation has been widely believed as the cause of low productivity in construction companies (Dossick and Sakagami, 2008). With the advent of information technology, modern and innovative information technology tools are being increasingly used by construction companies in order to minimize certain problems associated with fragmentation (Lee and Yu, 2012). The utilization of information technology in the form of web based project management applications has resulted in improvement of collaboration and coordination between companies participating actively in a construction project (Han, et al., 2008). Consequently, the communication practices between functional units in the construction organization are enhanced, thereby resulting in improved efficiency (Nitithamyong and Skibniewski, 2004). Such will be the benefits of a Web based Application solution that is being designed for a construction company. The application will enable managers to manage projects efficiently by facilitating effective communication between groups involved within a particular project. In that way, redundant activities can be minimized. Moreover, this web based application will also help users to reduce the amount of errors in activities. In addition to effective project management utility, the web based application will also serve as a database holding key information regarding current as well as previous projects and the people involved in those projects. The application is also capable of storing employee details enabling managers to manage and view their salary, benefits, holidays, expenses on accommodation, visa expiry and so on and so forth. The same information can also be seen by employees themselves. The database will also allow employees to know their peers and their responsibilities accurately. Background to the case study company Al Zakary Industry and Trade Company is a real estate development company based in Saudi Arabia. The company is primarily engaged in providing a broad range of services in commercial, office, residential, tourism, retail and hospitality sector. In addition, Al Zakary Industry is also involved in mix used and industrial developments for its partners and clients (Al Zakary Group, 2014a). The services provided by the company ranges from properties and facilities management to land acquisition and development. Along with real estate development, the company is also engaged in investment services (Al Zakary Group, 2014b). Purpose The fundamental purpose of this project is to develop a web based internal administration system for a medium to large construction company that will enable them to manage projects as well details of their parties involved in a particular project. In order to fulfil this purpose, the following objectives are to be achieved. Non-Functions Objectives Thorough research and planning. Collection and documentation of project outline specifications. Company business process examination. Analysis and design of web based application for integrating company business process. Development of key functions. Literature review on application system development. Formulation of e-business strategy in accordance with company’s mission and vision. Analysis of the challenges of implementing Enterprise Information Systems. Company information system infrastructure evaluation Recommendations for company business process development Assessment of indications related to project success and failure. Assessment of the causes of IT project success and failure. Identification of benefits to business process. Identification of benefits to partners and ROI. Functions objectives Design view of web application using HTML/CSS/jQuery and PHP. UML modelling. Design new database. Creation of SQL database connection consisting store project lists and users. Admin View Add/Edit/Delete Projects, users and suppliers. Add/Edit/Delete payments transaction to specific users, suppliers and projects. Assign users to specific projects. Search and assign suppliers to specific project orders. Exchange messages online between users regarding particular projects. Creation of e-meeting rooms, inviting users to participate. Implement permissions for administrators and users. Provide high level data security. Send notifications about visa expiries. User View View and edit profile details. View project list and check project details Notify any new messages. Serve as a search engine. Request holiday. Receive notification regarding new payment transaction Project specifications The primary specification of this project involves an extensive review of literature that will allow the researcher to develop a thorough understanding about development of web based application. In that way, the researcher will be able to gain a deep insight into aspects of a web based application and its corresponding applicability in the construction industry. The researcher also needs to gather extensive information regarding business process conducted within the construction company in order to check compatibility of the web based application with the equivalent business process. The researcher will also be in need of a platform that will enable the individual to write the codes of designing the web based application. After the designing phase is over, the application needs to be tested in a sample organization that will allow the researcher to assess performance. The prototype also needs to be tested for its robustness in documenting employee details. The researcher also has to analyse operational efficiency that is being achieved by implementation of this application. Following that, the researcher needs to develop an appropriate e-business strategy, which suits business process of the case company. Appropriate recommendations have to be made after careful identification of benefits and challenges expected through implementation of such an application system. Main Features The main functions that will be accomplished by the web based communication system of Al Zakary Industry and Trade Company are: Human Resource Management It will show the payments, working hours and compensations provided to each employee Project Management It will list the detailed information about the projects of the company Financial Management It will enumerate the financial investments attached with each project Holiday Management It will keep track about the leaves assigned and allotted to each employee Discussion Rooms Management It will explain the detailed information about ways through which the firm would manage the usage of its discussion rooms Advantages of the Web Based Communication Program Trading proficiency of an organization is highly influenced by the level of coordination experienced by its workforce. Thus, the web base communication program introduced by Al Zakary Industry and Trade Company will help it in managing its workforce more productively. If the levels of communication experienced by the employees of the concern are good, then their working proficiency and productivity will significantly improve. If, in the long run, the company expands its business branches in new countries, then it needs to establish a smooth communication network among its different international communication branches. Thus, with the help of the web based communication system, the employees of the company conducting business in different branches would be able to work on a common big project together. The problems faced by the organization with its supplier dealings will be resolved with this application. The company would be able to procure products at lower costs with the help of superior supplier relationships. The application will contain all the detailed information about the past, current and future prospects of the projects undertaken by the company. It will also record the names of the employees, who are attached to each project. Thus superior project and employee management of the company can be experienced only with the help of the web based communication program. The communication application will attach the name of each employee with a particular working profile. This will help the managers efficiently analyze the workload, salaries and compensations to be allocated for each employee. Main future project activities Following the submission and subsequent approval of the research proposal, one of the fundamental future activities to be conducted is that of reviewing empirical literatures on application systems development. This is precisely because the literature review will provide researcher with the opportunity to look at existing researches done in a similar field. By doing so, the researcher will be able to address any gaps existing in those existing literatures. The review will serve as a solid foundation based upon which the researcher will initiate the development of a web based internal administration system solution. The researcher also needs to outline any expense that may be incurred for conducting this project. Following that, each and every IT tools relevant to the project needs to be gathered for the researcher to develop the prototype application. After the prototype is developed, it needs to be rigorously tested so as to make it applicable for approval and subsequent implementation. Reference List Al Zakary Group, 2014a. A title for excellence and trust. [online] Available at: [Accessed 18 June 2014]. Al Zakary Group, 2014b. Company Overview. [online] Available at: Alshawi, M. and Ingirige, B., 2003. Web-enabled project management: an emerging paradigm in construction. Automation in construction, 12(4), pp. 349-364. Dossick, C. S. and Sakagami, M., 2008. Implementing web-based project management systems in the United States and Japan. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 1343, pp. 189-196. Han, S. H., Kim, D. Y., Kim, H., and Jang, W. S. 2008. A web-based integrated system for international project risk management. Automation in construction, 173, 342-356. Lee, S. K. and Yu, J. H., 2012. Success model of project management information system in construction. Automation in Construction, 25, pp. 82-93. Maurer, F., Dellen, B., Bendeck, F., Goldmann, S., Holz, H., Kötting, B. and Schaaf, M., 2000. Merging project planning and web-enabled dynamic workflow technologies. IEEE Internet Computing, 4(3), pp. 65-74. Nitithamyong, P. and Skibniewski, M. J., 2004. Web-based construction project management systems: how to make them successful? Automation in construction, 13(4), pp. 491-506. Thorpe, T. and Mead, S., 2001. Project-specific web sites: Friend or foe? Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 1275, pp. 406-413. Yi, M. Y. and Hwang, Y., 2003. Predicting the use of web-based information systems: self-efficacy, enjoyment, learning goal orientation, and the technology acceptance model. International journal of human-computer studies, 59(4), pp. 431-449. Read More