The Construction Industry: The Way Forward

Ibrahim Odeh, Ph.D., MBA

Offered By

The Construction Industry: The Way Forward

Columbia University

About this Course

This course provides an introduction on types of the construction projects as well as the main concern of the productivity challenge in the construction industry. Through case studies, you will learn the industry characteristics and its unique environment that led to such productivity performance as well as touch base on other several examples of challenges we are facing internally in the industry.
In the 2nd part of the course, Professor Odeh will give an overview of 10 mega trends that are making us change the way we think about construction. Furthermore, Professor Odeh will discuss the main role of three levels on what needs to be done: an industry collaborative effort and role; a government role; and last but not least a company role. In this discussion, Professor Odeh will also touch base on several technological and innovative trends that are rising in our construction industry.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

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Beginner Level

Approx. 6 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English

What you will learn

Construction Industry Overview, Sustainability in the Construction Industry, Building Information Modeling and Technology Trends in Construction

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 6 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English

Instructor

Ibrahim Odeh, Ph.D., MBA

Instructor, Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Columbia University

Director of Research and Founder, Global Leaders in Construction Management

79,417 Learners

5 Courses

Offered by

Columbia University

For more than 250 years, Columbia has been a leader in higher education in the nation and around the world. At the core of our wide range of academic inquiry is the commitment to attract and engage the best minds in pursuit of greater human understanding, pioneering new discoveries and service to society.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Introduction

Welcome to the course. In this module Professor Odeh will give an overview of the construction industry and its history. This will be followed by an exploration of the various characteristics of the construction industry globally as well as common internal challenges.

1 hour to complete

4 videos (Total 29 min)

4 videos

Course Overview3m

History and Development of Construction Industry8m

Common Construction Industry Characteristics7m

Internal Challenges of the Industry9m

1 practice exercise

History, Characteristics and Challenges of Construction Industry30m

Week

Week 2

1 hour to complete

Trends in the Construction Industry

The second module highlights ten examples of trends that are reshaping the way we deliver construction projects, such as: aging infrastructure, climate change, sustainability trends and tools, the rise of urbanization, and an aging/shrinking workforce. Along the way, you'll learn the optimal ways to respond to the opportunities and challenges brought by these trends respectively.

1 hour to complete

6 videos (Total 54 min)

6 videos

Ten Examples of the Trends8m

Aging in Infrastructure & Gap in Investment12m

Climate Change5m

Sustainability12m

Urbanization4m

The Workforce Shortage & Complex Regulation10m

1 practice exercise

Trends30m

Week

Week 3

1 hour to complete

Transformations Needed: Industry and Government Level

In this module, Professor Odeh discusses the way forward for the construction industry based on his work with the World Economic Forum. Moreover, Professor Odeh will discuss the importance of collaborating with governments and public officials in pursuit of industry transformation.

1 hour to complete

4 videos (Total 26 min)

4 videos

Transformations Needed to Move Forward5m

Industry Transformation on Marketing5m

Government Transformation on Regulations and Policies7m

Government Transformation on Procurement7m

1 practice exercise

Transformations Needed: Industry and Government Level30m

Week

Week 4

1 hour to complete

Transformations Needed: Companies Level

This module builds on the previous one by digging deeper into the role of companies at the AEC industry by covering the areas of innovative strategy, dealing with the workforce dilemma and culture, as well as business operations and processes.

1 hour to complete

4 videos (Total 31 min)

4 videos

Companies Transformation on Strategy9m

Companies Transformation on Workforce11m

Companies Transformation on Process and Operation I4m

Companies Transformation on Process and Operation II4m

1 practice exercise

Transformations Needed: Companies30m

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
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The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
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Will I earn university credit for completing the Course?
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The Construction Industry: The Way Forward

The Construction Industry: The Way Forward