ABSTRACT
The process of designing buildings has become increasingly difficult, reflecting the growing complexity of the buildings themselves and the process leading to their design, construction and management (Kalay et al. 1997). This complexity has required better coordination of building-related activities capable of aligning technological, economic, political and other developments (Archea 1987). Recently the developments in and extensive use of internet technologies have brought about fundamental changes in the way the building industry collaborates and designs by transforming their organizations with IT-based strategies. This initiative has been in part a response to pressure to improve efficiency, and also because of the need for communication and collaboration between AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) organizations, using various computer-mediated technologies, such as video conferencing, email, the Internet, intranets and virtual worlds. Thus, computer-mediated communication technologies have become a vital medium for most of these organizations.
