Construction Industry Cooperative Alliance
| Director |
| Dr. Steve R. Sanders |
The Construction Industry Cooperative Alliance's (CICA) goal is to improve the productivity, profitability and effectiveness of all parties involved in the construction industry in the eastern United States. To this end, CICA promotes dialogue, continuing professional development, technology advancement, and communication among owners, architects, engineers, and constructors.
Further details visit the CICA web site.
Objectives
To improve the productivity, profitability and effectiveness of parties involved in the construction industry. To this end, CICA will promote dialogue, continuing professional development, technology advancement, and communication among owners, architects, engineers, and constructors.
The Need
Studies by the nation’s leading industry research organizations continue to find that the key success factors for capitol and maintenance projects are most often associated with management practice. Benchmarking data indicates that proper use of best management practices for project management increases the probability of successful project results. As a major element in our economic system, the performance of the construction industry affects the bottom line cost of products and international competitiveness both in our own and foreign markets.
Technology and Project Complexity are advancing so rapidly that it is becoming increasingly difficult for professionals of the industry to stay abreast of their profession without formalized continuing professional development, and firms to utilize and advance the state-of-the-art management techniques in the design and construction of projects.
What Does CICA Do?
CICA promotes industry communication, continuing professional development and research implementation through the following activities:
- Offers relevant continuing professional development forums addressing topics as needed by the industry. CICA uses the team "forum" instead of "seminar" to highlight the main purpose of the events: the exchange of information among attendees.
- Offers Continuing professional development short courses that provide in-depth study opportunities focusing on implementation techniques of new and innovative concepts and technology. A unique blend of theory and practical experience is built into the short course format.
- Offers in-house, customized training on project management processes which are designed to facilitate improved project performance.
- Tackles problem-solving research implementation projects that are too expensive or time consuming for any one firm to handle. The research is conducted by Clemson University faculty and graduate students.
- Provides an information search capability scanning the enormous amount of construction literature and research data, highlighting items having special bottom-line relevance to your firm
- Provides a single-point-of-contact with Clemson University for assistance in recruiting top graduates, advanced course work, archival information resources, informal faculty consultation, Cooperative Education students, and many other services and contacts.
- Provides access to faculty and other experts who are available by separate contract to assist on problems proprietary to your firm.
- Provides a venue for interaction of all parties of the construction industry.