An Update Report on Industry Awareness of The Business Roundtable's CICE Project

This study is an update of the 1984–85 study entitled, “Industry Awareness of the CICE Project,” by Professor Donn E. Hancher, Purdue University and Professor Harold D. Pritchett, Oregon State University. This “update” study during 1987–88 was undertaken to determine if there was a change in the level of awareness of the CICE Project after a three-year period.

The basic data for the study were collected by a telephone survey in combination with a written questionnaire. A total of 257 respondents were randomly selected from published lists of the largest firms in the nation. A sub-sample of 31 firms from the earlier study (1984–85) was recontacted to see how the level of awareness had changed. (This group was identified as having no previous knowledge of the Business Roundtable and its publications during the 1984–85 study; they were subsequently sent copies of the CICE publications.)

The basic level of awareness of the Construction Industry participants of the CICE Project is still low. However, the percentages have improved from 36% (1984–85 study) to our current findings of 51%. General contractors, specialty contractors, owners, construction managers, and construction educators were found to be the most aware, while designers and owner/developers were found to have a very low level of awareness. Construction educators, who comprise 10% of the sample, were again found to have the highest level of awareness at 96%.

Approximately one-third of the New Industry Contacts were familiar with the CII and its publications. Less than half of those who were familiar with the CII publications have taken any action to obtain and use them. The general contractors, owners, and construction educators were, by far, the most knowledgeable. Eighty-eight percent of the educators were aware of and had taken action to obtain copies of the CII reports.

There continues to be considerable interest in the CICE Project and the CII efforts to assist in implementing the recommendations of the CICE Project by those who are aware of them. Those who reported implementing new programs or procedures, approximately 10% of the New Industry Contacts, were nearly all in the productivity improvement, labor motivation, and construction safety improvement areas. Two firms reported that they were implementing a vocational education effort.

These findings, five years after completion and distribution of the CICE Project reports, indicate that a significantly large number of our industry participants have been reached. These findings also indicate that the CICE reports have a high value as resource documents but have not been well studied. Although many changes have been implemented by our industry participants, the reports alone will not accomplish the goal of promoting improved cost effectiveness in the Construction Industry.

Recommendation

The Business Roundtable, the Construction Industry Institute, professional societies, and various other organizations representing the participants of the Construction Industry should continue to promote the goals and efforts of the CICE Project and the CII. The construction education programs in the United States are excellent vehicles to promote CICE Project and CII goals and efforts by planting the seed at an early time in the careers of our future Construction Industry leaders. Implementation into the university curricula can happen in a variety of ways and should become an integral part of university program requirements.