Virtual Organizational Imitation for Construction Enterprises: Agent-Based Simulation Framework for Exploring Human and Organizational Implications in Construction Management

Numerous efforts have been made to investigate organizational and human implications in construction management. Despite the major contribution of these efforts, future research efforts should be able to capture complex interactions of social processes in the construction environment. This paper proposes the use of agent-based modeling (ABM) to study the interactions of organizational and human factors and their effects on construction performance. Literature was used to identify the main model components and inputs. A simulation model, virtual organizational imitation for construction enterprises (VOICE), was built to explore how construction performance emerges from microlevel construction processes and work-related behaviors. A case study was conducted to investigate several managerial scenarios. Results demonstrate the need to understand social and managerial effects on the performance of construction processes. Results were verified and validated against multifold sources. VOICE is expected to be an effective approach to investigating the organizational and human interactions of construction organizations. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)CP.1943-5487.0000122. (C) 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.