The Small Contractor And The Small Computer PDF Download

In the late 1980s, many small companies did not own computer systems. As a result, they often lacked the capability to develop, use, and read project management reports. This paper describes a solution for closing the technology gap between large construction firms and small construction contractors by discussing a 1987 survey examining how a group of small Indiana-based (United States) contractors use computers to monitor business and project activity. It details the survey's methodology, lists its four purposes, and explains its results in regards to the software and hardware most typically used by the contractors surveyed. It then identifies ten obstacles that small contractors often face when attempting to introduce technology into their business operations, obstacles such as hardware and software compatibility, software and software compatibility, system selection, lack of computer experience, scheduling and estimating programs, general business software, cost, and training. It details several improvements for four areas--standardization, scheduling, estimating, training--that could help small contractors integrate technology into their businesses.