Diffusion of Network Planning in Construction

The history of the use of network analysis in the construction industry is reviewed. The difficulties encountered in the diffusion process from country to country, from industry to industry, and from company to company are examined. Differences between industrialized and developing countries are also considered. It is found that: (1) Research and development activities in the construction industry are inadequate whereas implementation problems in network applications require thorough investigation; (2) the diffusion of networks in developing countries is taking place with a delay when compared to the diffusion in industrialized countries, mainly because of the smaller sizes of companies and projects, limited resources, and because of the inherent higher uncertainty in the construction industry; (3) most civil engineering curricula have recently been revised and incorporate new management topics; and (4) successful introduction of network planning into construction companies, and therefore the rate of diffusion, seem to be directly dependent on the reasons why they were introduced initially.