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A Preliminary Investigation of the Readiness to Adopt Digital Technologies in a Developing Construction Industry

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Towards a Sustainable Construction Industry: The Role of Innovation and Digitalisation (CIDB 2022)

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Abstract

Adopting digital technologies (DTs) in construction projects delivery is crucial to enhancing project performance, the safety of construction workers and overall sustainability. Besides, the advent of the Coronavirus pandemic brings an urgent need to employ DTs in the construction industry to curtail the spread of the virus by limiting avoidable contact while maintaining efficiency. Meanwhile, developing countries appeared to be slow at embracing DTs in delivering construction services. Therefore, this study investigated the readiness to adopt DTs in the construction industry through an online survey administered to construction organisations. The data retrieved were analysed with correlation and multiple stepwise regression analyses. The results of the analysis indicated that readiness to adopt DTs is associated with the perceived benefits to construction organisations, while top management support for DTs is linked to the understanding of the benefits of DTs to construction service delivery and technological competence in the establishment. Mores so, top management support is a key driver for fast-tracking the readiness to adopt DTs in the construction industry. The study recommends a top-down approach of training on different DTs and their importance to construction service in the construction industry, especially for developing nations. Through the knowledge acquired, the top management officials could provide funds to purchase DTs tools, train their employees, and improve the outcomes of construction projects.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

    Lekan Damilola Ojo

  2. Department of Quantity Surveying, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

    Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke

  3. Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Clinton Aigbavboa

Authors
  1. Lekan Damilola Ojo
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  2. Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke
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  3. Clinton Aigbavboa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lekan Damilola Ojo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

    Clinton Aigbavboa

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, University of South Africa (UNISA), Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

    Wellington Thwala

  3. Civil Engineering Technology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

    Douglas Aghimien

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Ojo, L.D., Oke, A.E., Aigbavboa, C. (2023). A Preliminary Investigation of the Readiness to Adopt Digital Technologies in a Developing Construction Industry. In: Aigbavboa, C., Thwala, W., Aghimien, D. (eds) Towards a Sustainable Construction Industry: The Role of Innovation and Digitalisation. CIDB 2022. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22434-8_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22434-8_18

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-22433-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-22434-8

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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