Dr Andrew Finegan

Biography/ Background

Andrew Finegan is the PhD Program Director and a senior lecturer in Project Management in the Entrepreneurship Commercialisation and Innovation Centre (ECIC) at the University of Adelaide.

His formal qualifications include Doctor of Philosophy, Masters of Engineering in Systems Engineering, and Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Education. In 2001 he completed his doctoral thesis entitled "Technology Management: A systems approach to develop models of technology transfer for Australia". This study illustrates how a trans-disciplinary meta-model of technology transfer can be formulated, and then integrated with real-world methods and theories of technology transfer. These areas of interest are reflected in both his teaching and consultancy, and cover systems thinking, project management, business analysis, and the management of technology.

Prior to his academic career, Andrew had more than 20 years experience as a surveyor, systems analyst and project manager in the construction, mining and energy industries. This background and interest is now evident in his research activity in the application of systems thinking in the construction industry, especially with regard to organisational learning, knowledge management, and sustainable construction projects.

In August 2003 Andrew was awarded an RMIT University research innovation award, and in 2004 a best paper award at the INSITE04 Conference. In 2008 he received a highly commended award from Emerald Group Publishing Ltd for the paper “Facilitating Knowledge Pull to Deliver Innovation through Knowledge Management: A Case Study”, in the journal Engineering Construction and Architectural Management (Vol. 14, No. 1, 2007). He is also the doctoral supervisor of Dr D. C. Bower, who in 2008 was awarded best RMIT University doctoral thesis.

Qualifications

Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Education - 2002 (University of Melbourne)

Doctor of Philosophy - 2001 (RMIT)

Master of Engineering in Systems Engineering - 1990 (RMIT)

Graduate Diploma in Automated Cartography - awarded with distinction 1986 (RMIT)

Diploma of Applied Science in Surveying - 1982 (RMIT)

Research Interests

Application of systems thinking to complex project situations

The role of knowledge management in achieving an adaptive project organisation

The modelling of complexity in human activity

The management of technology-driven innovation

The use of SSM (soft systems methodology) in a diverse range of research settings, including knowledge elicitation, the adoption of technology, managing wicked problems, online learning, and organisational learning in industrial organisations

Multiple stakeholders and performance measurement in complex projects

Managing risk and uncertainty in complex projects

Publications

Books

Tatnall A., Visscher A.J., Finegan A. and O'Mahony C. editors (2009). Evolution of Information Technology in Educational Management.  New York, Springer, ISBN 978-0-387-93845-5

 

Book Chapters

Walker, D.H.T, Maqsood T., and Finegan A. D., (2007). “A Prototype Portal For Use as a Knowledge Management Tool to Identify Knowledge Assets in an Organisation”, in A.Tatnall (ed.), The Encyclopaedia of Portal Technology and Applications. Hershey, USA: IDEA Group Inc.

Walker, D.H.T, Maqsood T., and Finegan A. D., (2005). “The Culture of the Knowledge Advantage (K-Adv)-An Holistic Strategic Approach to the Management of Knowledge”, in Knowledge Management in the Construction Industry: A Socio-Technical Perspective, VTT, Finland. 225-250.

Finegan, A. (1993).  "Soft Systems Methodology: An alternative approach to knowledge elicitation in complex and poorly defined systems".  Complex Systems: From Biology to Computation, Amsterdam: ISO Press. 232-241.

 

Selected Refereed Journals  

Bower D. C. and Finegan A. D. (2009), “New Approaches in Project Performance Evaluation Techniques”. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business. Vol. 2, No. 3, 435-444.

Maqsood T. and Finegan A. D. (2009), “A Knowledge Management Approach to Innovation and Learning in the Construction Industry”. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business. Vol. 2, No. 2.

Maqsood T., Finegan, A. and Walker D. H. T. (2007), “Extending the “Knowledge Advantage”: Creating Learning Chains”. The Learning Organization, Vol. 14, No. 2, 123-141.

Maqsood T., Walker D.H.T., and Finegan, A. D. (2007), “Facilitating Knowledge Pull to Deliver Innovation through Knowledge Management: A Case Study”, Engineering Construction and Architectural Management, UK, Vol 14, 94-109

Maqsood, T., Finegan, A. and Walker, D. H. T. (2006). “Applying project histories and project learning through knowledge management in an Australian construction company”. The Learning Organization. Vol. 13, No. 1, 80-95.

Finegan, A., Tutty, J. and White, B. (2006), “Information Technology Online: A Knowledge Framework for Curriculum Externalisation”. Australian Computer Science Communications. Vol 28, No. 5, 63-70.

Maqsood T., Finegan, A. D. and Walker D. H. T. (2004) “Biases and Heuristics in Judgment and Decision Making: The Dark Side of Tacit Knowledge”, Journal of Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology, vol. 1, 2004, 295-301.

Finegan, A D, (2003). “Wicked Problems, Organisational Complexity and Knowledge Management: A Systems Approach”, International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management, vol. 3, 2003.

Maqsood, T. and Finegan, A.D. (2003) “Applying models of knowledge management to an industry case study”, International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management, vol. 3, 2003.

Finegan, A. (2002). "Web-based learning - local and offshore perspectives" ultiBASE, November 2002, [Electronic Journal]. URL; http://ultibase.rmit.edu.au/Articles/nov02/finegan1.htm

 

Recent Refereed Conference Proceedings

White, B., Tutty, J. & Finegan, A. (2007). “History of a Wireless Innovation: Using Rich Pictures to Design Sustainable Change”. In Proceedings of World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications 2007. Chesapeake, VA: AACE, 587-595.

White, B, Tutty, J. and Finegan, A, (2006). “Deploying tablet pc’s: lessons learned in a mobile wireless implementation “, Australian Computers in Education Conference, October 2 - 4, 2006, Cairns.

Finegan, A., Tutty, J. and White, B. (2006). “Information Technology Online: A Knowledge Framework for Curriculum Externalisation”. In Proc. Eighth Australasian Computing Education Conference (ACE2006), Hobart, Australia. CRPIT, 52. Tolhurst, D. and Mann, S., Eds., ACS. 63-70.

Finegan, A. White, B., & Tutty, J. (2005) A Soft Systems Analysis of an online learning project. Conference Proceeding SETE 2005. A Decade of Growth …and Beyond Brisbane: The Systems Engineering Society of Australia. 11 pages.

Finegan, A. and Maqsood, T. (2005). A case study of the adoption of ICT technology in a remotely located construction organisation. Proceedings of the CIB W102 2005 “Information and Knowledge Management in a Global Economy” Conference. May 19 – 20, 2005, Lisbon, Portugal.

Maqsood , T., Walker, D.H.T., Finegan, A.D., (2005) A Model for Developing Organisational Learning Transformation through KM, 19th ANZAM conference 2005, 7-10 December, Canberra

Maqsood, T., Walker, D.H.T and Finegan, A., (2005) ‘The role of knowledge management in enhancing knowledge Pull in the Construction Organisations to deliver Innovation: A case study ‘, Proceedings of the 21st ARCOM Conference, Ed Farzad Khosrowshahi, Sept 7-9, London UK, Vol 1, 539-548.

Maqsood T., Walker, D.H.T and Finegan, A., (2005) Unleashing Innovation and Creativity through Managing Knowledge in Supply Chains: Creating the Learning Chains, Third International Conference on Construction in the 21st Century (CITC-III): Advancing Engineering, Management and Technology, 15-17 September, Athens, 677-681.

Maqsood, T., Finegan, A. and Walker, D.H.T. (2005). Tacit Knowledge and Worldviews – A Case Study of the Construction Tendering Process. Proceedings of the CIB W102 2005 “Information and Knowledge Management in a Global Economy” Conference. May 19 – 20, 2005, Lisbon, Portugal.

White, B., Tutty, J. & Finegan, A. (2005) A qualitative analysis of issues in developing an online learning project. In H. Goss(Ed.), Balance, Fidelity, Mobility: maintaining the momentum? Proceeding of the 22nd annual conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ascilite) (pp. 679-683) Brisbane: Teaching and Learning Support Services, Queensland University of Technology.

Maqsood, T, Walker, D.H.T. and  Finegan, A (2004), Current State of Knowledge Management, Potential and Trends: Implications for the Construction Industry, Proceedings of the ‘Clients Driving Innovation’ International Conference of the Collaborative Research Centre for Construction Innovation, Oct 25-27, Surfers Paradise, Australia

Maqsood, T., Walker, D.H.T. and Finegan, A.D. (2004).  ‘An investigation of ICT diffusion issues in an Australian construction company using SSM’, CIB W107 2004 – Globalization and Construction: Meeting the Challenges, Reaping the Benefits.. Bangkok, 17-19 November 2004, 10 pages.

Maqsood, T., Walker, D.H.T. and Finegan, A.D. (2004).  Project Histories and Project Learning – A Knowledge Management Challenge. ARCOM 2004: 20^th Annual Conference. Brighton, UK, 1-3 September 2004, 10 pages.

Maqsood T., Finegan, A. D. and Walker D.H.T. (2004) ‘Biases and Heuristics in Judgment and Decision Making: The Dark Side of Tacit Knowledge’, Accepted for publication as one of the best papers in, Informing Science and IT Education Joint Conference, Rockhampton, QLD Australia, 25-28 June 2004. (Also accepted to appear as a Journal article following the conference)

Maqsood , T., Finegan, A.D. and Walker, D.H.T. (2003) 'Extending knowledge management across the supply chains in the construction industry: Knowledge sharing in construction supply chains', 2nd International Conference on Construction in the 21st Century (CITC-II), Hong Kong, 10-12 December 2003,121-126.

Maqsood, T., Walker, D.H.T., Finegan, A.D. and Staedler, A. P (2003) 'Investigating the role of ICT in improving productivity in Construction Supply Chains in Australian Construction Industry', 2nd International Conference on Construction in the 21st Century (CITC-II), Hong Kong, 10-12 December 2003,511-516.

Maqsood , T., Finegan, A.D. and Walker, D.H.T. (2003) 'A soft approach to solving hard problems in construction project management', 2nd International Conference on Construction in the 21st Century (CITC-II), Hong Kong, 10-12 December 2003,312-317.

Maqsood, T., Finegan, A.D. and Walker, D.H.T. (2003).  A conceptual model for exploring knowledge channelisation from sources of innovation in construction organisations: Extending the role of Knowledge Management. ARCOM 2003: 19^th Annual Conference. Brighton, UK, 3-5 September 2003, 9 pages.

Walker, D.H.T., Finegan, A.D. and Maqsood, T. (2003). Using a Soft Systems Methodology Approach to Knowledge Elicitation – An Australian Case Study. Knowledge Construction: Joint International Symposium of CIB Working Commissions W55, W65 and W107. Singapore, 22-24 October 2003. 10 pages.

Finegan, A. 2002. "Applying Business Models for Risk Management in e-Business". Second International Conference on Electronic Business (ICEB 2002), Taipei, 10-13 December, 2002.

Finegan, A. 2002. "e-Learning: A Study of Issues and Perspectives". Second International Conference on Electronic Business (ICEB 2002), Taipei, 10-13 December, 2002.

Professional Associations

Member – Australian Institute of Project Management

Member – Australian Computer Society

Member – System Engineering Society of Australia

 

Entry last updated: Thursday, 17 Sep 2009