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Chief information officers (CIOs) are becoming a more accepted member of many firms' executive teams, however, they still head a tricky course in managing technology needs and costs. Some of the CIOs express their views regarding the way in which industry works and their working methods.

A growing number of construction companies are beginning to question whether they can make a profit by doing business on the Internet. Industry experts say that growing doubts on the issue of financial returns stem from the industry's failure to explore the full potentials of the Internet as a business tool. Almost all companies are using their sites to deliver product information but only a few are venturing into projects aimed at discovering the benefits of the Net as a major communication tool.

Many contract constructions companies hoping to capitalize on the huge demand for infrastructure in emerging economies are finding themselves at the short end of the deal due to the barriers to privatization. One major hindrance to successful public-private partnerships is the failure of the government to make the project economically feasible or self-supporting which forces investors to kill the project to prevent future losses. Many governments also refuse to support part of the projects' financial risk, which discourage the private sector from investing.

Companies and agencies have varying beliefs on the implementation of business presentations, but innovative presentations continue to arise from changing technology. Design-build presentations are among the most expensive because of the comprehensive nature of the delivery system. Slides, CD-ROMs, animation and virtual reality are examples of innovative presentations. Still, the most essential elements of a presentation are content, credibility and chemistry.

The whole construction industry is greatly affected by the death of its top executives, who not only held key positions in their firms but were also influential decision-makers in the field. The accident had the affected firms coping with several issues all at once, from grief of the families and employees to succession mechanisms. Mechanisms such as counselors for the employees have been provided. However enormous the loss though, business has to continue and the firms will still have to move forward.

Construction companies are seeking out contracts by offering to invest in shares of the firm planning a construction project. Contracters have found that an equity investment assures them of additional profits from the operation in addition to returns gained from the contract itself. Other companies believe that equity investments are risky since they entail large amounts of capital. Meanwhile, firms such as Bechtel Group Inc. and Raytheon Engineers and Constructors International have already reaped the benefits of partnerships with their clients.

The Arizona Dept. of Transportation (ADOT) is earning praises for its refreshing management style. Former ADOT director Charles Cowan ended ADOT's adversarial relations with contractors via an approach called partnering. His successor, Larry Bonine, continues the practice and is credited as well with modernizing ADOT's road and traffic management systems while pursuing ADOT's environmental goals, such as the preservation of the Saguaro cactus, and social goals, such as the protection of the rights of Arizona's Native American tribes. Other state transportation agencies are learning from the ADOT's example.

The architectural, engineering and construction sectors are experiencing a major upheaval marked by a flurry of mergers and acquisitions. Industry analysts predict that the industry will soon be divided into large international consolidated corporations and small specialty firms. Moreover, they noted that relationship building and synergy are the prime determinants of success in the emerging marketplace.

Members of the construction industry which have applied total quality management (TQM) to their production processes reported improvements in product quality, productivity and profitability. TQM enables companies to focus and respond to increase in customer satisfaction and employee performance. It adds value to work by increasing employee performance and enhancing relations among staff. Furthermore, TQM helps companies to identify the root causes of problems to create more effective solutions.

Privatization of government-funded projects such as roads and bridges is slowly gaining popularity in the US. However, companies noted the privatization is a difficult and expensive endeavor since not all roads and bridges can prove profitable. Despite the difficulties, the federal government is intensifying its efforts to make privatization a viable process through new legislation. A discussion of several successful privatization projects is presented.

Most stock analysts tracking the engineering and construction sector also follow stocks in related sectors such as machinery and environmental services. These analysts usually have the resources to recognize new developments in the sector that can spell profitability for investors. However, predicting stock performance remains difficult despite the amount of information analysts uncover. The stock market views of key analysts especializing in the engineering and construction sector are presented.

Raytheon Co. is focusing its efforts in the engineering and construction sector through Raytheon Engineers and Constructors Inc. (E&C) which earned $1.7 billion in 1993. Raytheon intends to become less dependent on government defense contracts and is relying on its E&C group to increase the company's sales and profitability. The company, known for its advanced technological expertise, is also seeking new business directions through Raytheon Service Co.

ENR has chosen Ginger S. Evans as Construction's Woman of the Year 1994 and winner of the Award of Excellence for outstanding project administration. Evans is the cohesive force which held the $3.2 billion Denver International Airport (DIA) project together through its completion. As project manager of DIA, Evans cut through bureaucracy and political machinations to complete the construction of the airport that was deemed a potential failure.

Peter Kiewit Sons' Inc is one of the most sophisticated, wealthiest and biggest general contractors in the US. In 1992 Kiewit's revenues were approximately $2 billion for all operations. The company has over $800 million in cash and short-term securities. Although they are best known for building highways and bridges, Kiewit is more than just a road builder. A profile on the company, its management and its projects is presented.

Repair work continues at New York City's World Trade Center complex. As a consequence of the terrorist bombing incident, New Jersey legislators have introduced a resolution for the possibility of reforming rules governing the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The likelihood for eliminating the port authority's exemption from life-safety-system inspections is considered. In addition, building owners are appraising buildings and codes on terrorism resistance. Repair work is also underway on the New York Vista Hotel which was also affected by the blast.

Engineers analyzed structural damages absorbed by the World Trade Center after a bomb exploded in its second basement level. The blast crippled the building's power and emergency systems and caused heavy structural damage. However, the center was able to effectively sustain the explosion due to its excellent design which even exceeded building code requirements during its construction. Operations personnel are also working overtime to restore the structure's mechanical, electrical and life-safety systems.

Design-build, a concept that combines engineering and construction services, is a strategy used by building owners to help eliminate litigation costs. Many public and private contractors have turned to design-build projects since they are much quicker and easier to manage. The single-source, fast-track method is an ideal project delivery strategy for companies that are in the process of downsizing their in-house engineering staff and are seeking cost-effective alternatives in delivering services.

US engineering firm Morrison Knudsen Corp. (MK) purchased Centennial Engineering Inc. for $9 million at the end of 1990. Centennial was allowed to retain its autonomy and has become effectively MK's highway and bridge division. MK did not want to stiffle Centennial's innovatory style and has allowed it to develop. Centennial has expanded to 320 employees and expects billings of $38 million for 1993 compared to $20 million in 1990. Centennial is specialising in industrial work and railway projects.

Baby boomers, the 75-million strong group born between 1946 and 1964 are the aging boomers, who are the largest generation in U.S. history and the residential construction market is in for a shock as baby boomers are likely to change housing market as they age. Designers and builders will have to rethink the way they will build houses for this more active, independent, individualistic generation.

The United States has awarded numerous support contracts to construction and engineering firms as ground fighting intensifies in Iraq. The article discusses various contracts including Kellogg Brown & Root's deal with the Corps of Engineers to handle oil well fires and rebuild damaged petroleum infrastructure.

Sales of applied technology developed by two companies to give workers more control over their workspace environment have lagged. Johnson Controls Inc. expects to sell just 3,000 units of its Personal Environment Modules in 2002, while sales of Armstrong Building Products i-ceilings Wireless Systems have also been slow.

Issues are presented concerning the thousands of volunteers from the building trades who came to offer assistance following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The psychological effect on those turned away is discussed.

The Associated General Contractors intends to sue the US Department of Transportation over the rule on retainage. The new regulation, aimed at protecting disadvantaged businesses, forbids prime contractors from holding retainage once its part of a contract is complete.

Bovis Pres. and CEO Luther Cochrane and COO Jim D'Agostino have steered the company to one of its best years. Bovis currently has a work backlog worth $70 million and its work on the Atlanta Olympics project has boosted its public image. Cochrane and D'Agostino have been striving to combine the different contracting and construction firms under Bovis. Through such synergies, the executives hope to bolster Bovis' market share and reputation for quality work.

The trade mission, headed by Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown, for the reconstruction of the Balkans tragically ended in an airplane crash April 3, 1996 in Croatia. The mission was composed of government officials and top executives of the construction, finance, telecommunications and development industries. The loss is enormous for both the government and the industry, especially that of Brown, deemed one of the best ever to occupy the position he had.

Funding for research in design and construction technologies has been affected by the government's attempt to balance the federal budget. There is increasing pressure on researchers to develop new and innovative products and techniques despite the limited resources that are available to them. The construction industry has began to explore ways of speeding up the process of making new technologies available in the market, including the opening of the Innovative Technology Evaluation Center and the use of the Internet.

New communications technology such as the Internet and personal computers are allowing construction companies to operate virtually 24-hours a day even in far-flung locations. Construction plans are be readily transmitted using electronic mail systems and facsimile machines. In addition, personal computers can help in designing projects, which can be easily presented to prospective clients as computer simulations.

Many construction companies are following the trend toward globalization and accepting international contracts. Those which have been successful in such endeavors stress the importance of finding a local partner. Local partners help reduce liabilities for international contractors and assist in maximizing job opportunities. However, contractors wishing to forge partnerships should seek out local firms that are technologically compatible with their operations. Moreover, they should clearly outline the risks and rewards with their local partners to avoid confusion.

Members of the construction industry have begun using the Internet to send messages or browse over databases for relevant information. Among the spots available for contractors and engineers is PLACES which exists on America Online. Another specialized forum is called World Wide Wonders, Dallas, TX, which caters to underground specialists. There are at least three companies planning World Wide Web locations for industry members' access.

Winter Park Construction (WPC) has established itself as the first construction firm to use the Internet for marketing. WPC earned its home page on the international computer network on Dec. 30, 1994. Honolulu, HA-based Fletcher Pacific Construction Co. and the Regional Alliance for Small Contractors have also set up their own home pages. Increasing use of the Internet is attributed to its effectivity as an interactive medium for information access and product or service promotion.

Financial experts are urging businesses involved in foreign projects to track their expenses in terms of the US dollar and key foreign currencies, to be wary of currency fluctuations and to adopt a long-term monetary perspective. They believe such strategies are necessary given the continuous slide of the US dollar in international markets, particularly against the Japanese yen and the German mark. Although economists are uncertain regarding the exact cause of this trend, they believe the budget deficit, the Mexican crisis and traders' short-term stance are all contributing factors.

The industrial construction market is forecast to continue its growth following a recovery in 1994. US manufacturing contracts are predicted to gain 11% to $10 bil in 1995. The growth is attributed to the upswing in Asian economies and some Latin American countries, which supports the upward momentum in capital spending cycle. Among the sectors expected to benefit are hydrocarbon and petrochemicals, environmental services, paper and pulp, rcycling and automotive.

Many construction contractors in the US expect to see more work in the coming years. Despite such a favorable forecast, many contractors believe that profits will continue to be depressed because of rising costs. They identified high insurance costs as the primary factor influencing profits. Studies indicate that contractors in the Southeast expressed the highest improvement in revenues in 1993, which rose by 25% compared the previous year.

The massive Denver International Airport (DIA) project is plagued by political and technical problems that could delay the airport's planned opening on Dec 19, 1993. These problems can be traced to the alleged budgetary excesses being committed by the project coordinator and the lack of qualified electricians willing to work on the airport. However, airport officials say that DIA is certain to open on Dec 19 even if there is still a lot of details that remain to be completed.

Groundbreaking on an $8.4 million connector highway was held in Sep 1993 as part of a plan to ease traffic on Country Music Blvd, a five-mile stretch of country music theaters in Branson, MO. The plan was conceived by local officials in cooperation with Taney County, the Missouri Highway and Transportation Dept and the Federal Highway Administration. It includes an 18-mile long loop christened the Ozark Mountain High Road and several local streets.

CH2M Hill Inc has been freed from responsiblity regarding a methane tunnel explosion in 1988 which killed three S.A. Healy Co supervisors. The court ruled that OSHA standards could not apply to the case since CH2M Hill did not engage in construction work, did not exercise control over the contractor's construction work and did not create the hazardous conditions. The decision has prompted OSHA to draft a new multiemployer site policy.

The Riverside Freeway, or S.R.91 in Orange County is to be the first 100% privately financed toll road in the US, following three and a half years of negotiations over approval and financing. The group of lenders include Citicorp, Banque Nationale de Paris and Societe Generale, and the equity partners include construction companies and road builders forming California Private Transportation Co. (CPTC) to oversee the project. The project involves four further express lanes, two of which will be toll lanes and two will be discounted lanes.