Electronic document management in temporary project organisations

Purpose The aim of this paper is to study the use of internet‐based document management systems in a project‐based industry (construction). Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on a number of empirical studies in which the author has been involved, conducted over a long period in Sweden and Finland. Findings The central problems in putting electronic document management (EDM) systems into practical use are not technical, but relate to psychological and management issues. Issues discussed in the paper include very complex metadata and folder structures, the use of parallel paper distribution even after EDM has been introduced, the difficulty of measuring the benefits of system introduction and the split of users into document uploaders and downloaders. Originality/value The paper provides useful advice on factors to consider for project teams planning the use of EDM systems in their projects. It summarises the results of a number of studies which have used a variety of research techniques.