This chapter considers the irnportanceofinformation-sharing techniques and strategies employed by industry sectors. Well-developed supply chain management often brings with it improved buyer-supplier communication processes, and we consider the impact of these not only from an intersector point of view, but also from a cross-sector viewpoint. The particular perspectives of the small business within a supply chain structure and of the supply chaincustomer are examined in detail. We conclude that

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... information sharing is a critical component ofbusiness success both inside and outside the supply chain structure. However, while globally and at the large business level, both development (md implementation ofsuch technologies have mushroomed, smaller enterprises have tended to be left behind to cope as best they can with multiple pressures . . to conform. An additional factor promoting information sharing is an industry sector's self-review process, which can reveal major inadequacies in operating methods. For instance, a report ofthe Australian Construction Industry Forum (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2002) indicated that 30% of a construction proj ect' s total cost is the result of poor information management. The cost savings anticipated from rectifying such problems are a powerful motive for the adoption of new operating methods.