Article Abstract

	Title:	Evaluating web-based bidding in construction: using simulation as an evaluation tool
	Author:	Dolphy M. Abraham, Cesar Fuentes, Dulcy M. Abraham
	Address:	College of Business Administration, Loyola Marymount University, One LMU Drive, MS 8385, Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659, USA. ' School of Civil Engineering & Division of Construction Engineering and Management, Purdue University, 550 Stadium Mall Drive, W. Lafayette, IN 47907-2051, USA. ' School of Civil Engineering & Division of Construction Engineering and Management, Purdue University, 550 Stadium Mall Drive, W. Lafayette, IN 47907-2051, USA
	Journal:	International Journal of Electronic Business 2004 - Vol. 2, No.2  pp. 121 - 141
	Abstract:	E-business approaches have the potential to reduce costs of operations, speed up the business process and affect industries as a whole. However, the construction industry has not paid as much attention to using e-business approaches. Part of the reason behind this lack of interest is the substantial investments required in information technology (IT) to enable e-business processes and the lack of evidence that this type of investment pays off. This paper reviews methods to evaluate IT investments in the construction industry, summarising and discussing their limitations. A case study is presented, describing how simulation is used to compare the impact of the web-based bidding tool (WBBT) with respect to a traditional approach to bidding. The results emerging from this study suggests further study in the evaluation of e-business approaches in the construction industry.
	Keywords:	e-business; e-procurement; web-based bidding tools; IT evaluation tools; simulation modelling; construction industry.
	DOI:	10.1504/IJEB.2004.005022
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