Back in 1993 Jack B. Rochester (Rochester, 2003) reported that “… a recent U.S. government study concluded that by the year 2000, three out of five jobs that people will need to be trained and educated for do not exist today. Moreover, these jobs will almost certainly involve the use of a computer.”

Looking back over the fifteen years since that report it is easy to see just how accurate the U.S. Study was. In 1993 the AEC sector was only beginning to come to terms with the idea of a CAD Manager; someone who could organize and manage CAD facilities and production. Today we have BIM and the emphasis is on Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). What are the challenges? What are the opportunities? What impact is IPD likely to have on traditional AEC professions?

The information presented on this site has been learnt from the experience of business sectors more advanced at implementing and deploying Information Technology and Information Systems than the AEC Sector currently finds itself. We have tapped into the knowledge and effort of many experts in business and academia. Some of these experts are from such notable institutions as Harvard University, and the UK based, Cranfield School of Business. In recognition of the sterling work done by these people and institutions various organisations (most notably the Carnegie Foundation and Nortel) have generously sponsored their research.

My own interest in this subject was kindled some two decades ago. It lead me to embark on a Masters research programme which initially focused on researching and developing a framework for IS/IT benefits evaluation within AEC. However, it very soon included a study of all aspects of Information Management. I became the first person to apply Information Management, as contained in the Information Management Body of Knowledge (IMBOK), to the AEC business sector. At the time I was also employed as the Chief National CAD Examiner for the South African Department of National Education, and Head of Project Management Studies at the University of the Western Cape (Cape Town, South Africa).

By Douglas Oosthuizen
IPD Consultant - May 2009