i Will the system make your job easier or harder?
Easier, it would reduce paperwork, allow easier 45 %
and quicker access to information.
11 % of respondents felt it would make their job easier once they were accustomed to the system and indicated they would double check calculations at first.
Unsure 22%
Easier providing accounts information was accessible 22%
Much harder 12%
The majority of respondents felt the computer would enhance and make their jobs easier because it would improve the information flow, particularly if systems in different departments were networked.
ii How do you think your job will change by introducing the computer?
No change to job, but it will remove the mundane 67%
tasks, make repetitive tasks less laborious, reduce paperwork increase productivity and provide more information and feedback.
Increase professionalism 11 %
More office based as information would be 11 %
available via computer
Control would be removed from the job 11 %
"I'd be pricing a job using numbers previously entered into the computer and loose control"
Only one member of staff perceived his job would change and that control would be removed and transferred to the computer. The other members o f staff did not perceive any change. The surveyors felt much of their job involved valuations whereby they were liaising with people on site which a computer could not do. One respondent envisaged that perhaps their job would change after the system was installed and the capabilities were fully understood thus allowing further developments to take place.
iii Do you want to use a computer in your job? Why?
Yes to keep abreast with technology
Yes to access cost information from accounts in head office and be more autonomous.
"Many functions are performed in head office which could be done here if we had a computer."
22
%
33%
On respondent replied "No, it would be of no benefit to the way I do my job. I've seen other companies using computers in estimating and no
11%
computer can price a job as quick as I can.
Yes to investigate and learn something new 11%
Yes it would provide increased accuracy, 22%
efficiency and feedback from other departments
All but one respondent wanted to use computers in their jobs. The staff could see the benefits and value of being able to share information.
iv In view of the current downturn in the Construction industry, do you see the computer systems as increasing the competitiveness of your company ?
Yes, more accurate information, increased 55%
efficiency, time savings and feedback. The office manager felt computer systems would improve the flow of information enabling better and quicker decision making.
No, it provides information after the event, 45%
they cannot alter that way buildings are constructed on site.
Opinions were very mixed, several people were of the view that computers could not increase productivity on site.
4:FUTURE
In five years time do you see
(a) Each department being computerised and linked in the company? . . (b) Staff using manual methods?
(c) Only certain departments using computers others using manual methods.
(a) 66%
The respondents would like to see each department linked in the company and also have a link to head office in order to exchange information.
(c) 44%
One respondent felt computers would only be useful in the accounts department. He also had the opinion that
computers wasted too much paper and were sold on saving staff. "I am too old to change the way I do things. Everything is stored in my head, it's easier to do my job this way." The general manager sympathised with this view and felt estimating would still be done manually and jobs would have to be
standardised before they could be priced accurately on computer.
The majority of respondents were of the opinion that computers should be a part of company growth and development. Many felt computers had not been exploited to date and saw great potential for computer developments in the company. Few people envisaged computers on site.
CURRENT USERS STRUCTURED INTERVIEW 1.USE OF COMPUTERS
i What is the function of the computer in your job?
The estimating department were using computers for 60% comping bills, producing the monthly tender analysis
and budget figures, sending out subcontract
and material enquiries and producing telephone lists.
The surveying department were using computers for 40%
producing bonus sheets and subcontract payment certificates.
b) How long have you been using the computer at work?
1 - 2 years 100%
c) How many hours/week do you use the computer?
The Estimating department were using the computer 60%
1 0 - 2 0 hrs/wk on average depending on the number of jobs that required pricing.
In surveying the computer was used 3 - 7 hrs/wk 40%
ii Have you used a computer elsewhere?
Yes, at.school/college. Computers had been used 80% for word processing, producing spreadsheets and
retrieving data from databases.
No 20%
Although most interviewees had previously used computers at school/college they could remember little of what they had learnt. Only one respondent had regularly used .computers as part of a part time course and found the experience gained had helped her to easily adapt and learn the systems implemented at work.