Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

SCOTT, BOB

1995 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/eb021004

Since 1990, BP Exploration Europe has been developing a significant track record in substantially reducing the costs of new oil and gas development projects. This is allowing fields which were once highly marginal to be transformed into attractive investment opportunities and has opened up the prospect of a future in the North Sea stretching well into the next century. At the same time safety and quality standards are being maintained or enhanced, and the design and construction contractors, as well as suppliers of materials and equipment, are sharing in the success by attaining enhanced levels of profitability.

MOLAD, CLARISSE; EDWARD BACK, W.

1995 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/eb021005

Electronic Data Interchange EDI is a form of electronic communication designed to permit trading partners customers and suppliers, in two or more organizations, to exchange business transaction data in electronic, structured formats. Unique to EDI, the electronic transmission of the transaction information can be processed directly by the applications within the receiving computer systems. The transmission of data in machine readable form eliminates the need for manual intervention in the data entry or data manipulation process. EDI is a tool for the electronic transmission and integration of information interorganizationally. A growing number of leading edge engineering and construction companies from around the world are implementing EDI applications to improve operational efficiency, enhance information quality, and achieve reductions in processing time of project critical information. EDI facilitates electronic commerce and is particularly useful in international construction endeavours. This paper provides an overview of EDI, discusses EDI applications in engineering and construction E & C, outlines the status of international EDI standards development as it relates specifically to the E & C industry, and summarizes corporate benefits commonly attributable to EDI implementation.

ABDULAZIZ, ABDULRASHID

1995 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/eb021006

Seymour's application of the eclectic paradigm to the international construction industry is examined. As with other theories on multinational enterprise, the paradigm was conceived by Dunning to explain the phenomenon of foreign direct investment in the manufacturing sector. In retaining it to explain international involvement of construction companies, certain conventional economic reasoning was modified. It is the contention of this paper that Seymour's conceptualization is incongruent with the peculiarities of international contracting. Neither does it reflect the extensive debate on the suitability of wellgrounded economic thoughts to international services. In the course of preparing this paper, it was found that a few government and international agencies have had to confront the difficulties of applying the existing theoretical framework to the services sector. Refinements are proposed here to make Seymour's theoretical construct more robust as a tool for future research, simply by referring to direct observations and materials which were at his disposal.

POH, PAUL S.H.; MALCOLM W. HORNER, R.

1995 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/eb021007

A rich variety of cost models is used in the world's construction industries. In countries exposed to British practice, the use of traditional bills of quantities is common. Elsewhere, bills of quantities may not be used at all. This paper briefly reviews the nature and purpose of cost models both in the UK and in southeast Asia. It explains how the principle of costsignificance can lead to a simplified method of measurement which is both wellstructured and sufficiently accurate a halfway house between traditional bills and a single lump sum. By way of example, the derivation of a costsignificant model for student hostels in Singapore is presented. Representing no more than a first step, the problems still to be resolved are outlined. Nevertheless, the techniques seem to hold much promise for the future, and others are encouraged to explore where they might most effectively be applied.

FLANAGAN, ROGER; NORMAN, GEORGE; WORRALL, HEATHER

1995 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/eb021008

This paper looks at the trade performance of the UK building materials and components industries. In particular it analyses recent trade performance and trends from 1980 to 1993. The recession has caused many UK manufacturers and suppliers of building materials and components to go out of business. Faced with the present slow recovery, the remaining UK companies must consider their competitiveness and ability to meet the growing demands of the domestic and overseas markets. Import penetration has left the construction materials and components industries with small capacity, less able to invest in the research and development necessary to compete effectively in the world market and to provide for increasing demand as growth in the economy picks up. The balance of trade in these goods is likely to worsen with a consequent detrimental effect on the UK balance of payments.