Determinig and simulating the best possible system architecture of project - based ERP systems in construction industry

Abstract

Even though the construction industry is one of the largest contributors to the economy, it is considered as one of the highly fragmented, inefficient, and project oriented industries. Also, the construction industry has always been criticized for its low performance due to lack of high quality performance evaluation, project monitoring, cost effectiveness, security, and sustainability. In order to overcome this ineffectiveness, several solutions have long been offered including adaptation of information technology (IT) and information systems. Since each project is unique, they create some distinct challenges. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems present an integrated system that has the knowledge and databases of the different departments in a construction company. At this point, Construction Enterprise Resource Planning (C-ERP) systems provide construction companies with much more integrated and effective system to overcome this ineffectiveness, fragmentation of departments and low performance issues. However, regular ERP systems is not completely suitable for project-based construction organizations and transforming a regular ERP system to a tailored C-ERP system for a construction organization can have very long implementation periods until a smooth and efficient performance. Therefore, identifying the needs and expectations of construction industry for a well-defined and prepared C-ERP system, and determining and examining best possible system architecture components of project based C-ERP systems plays crucial role. In this thesis, this subject is studied based on data collected through six real experience case studies and a questionnaire survey. Architecture of Integrated Information Systems (ARIS) House methodology is used to guide the components of system architecture and to build and to explain theoretical background of the data comes from researches. At the end of the thesis, a sample Graphical User Interface (GUI) is also presented.