ICT Implementation of Small- and Medium-Sized Construction Enterprises: Organizational Characteristics, Driving Forces, and Value Perceptions

Guangbin Wang,Pardis Pishdad-Bozorgi,Hao Lu,Yingxia Xue,Dan Tan

doi:10.3390/su11123441

Guangbin Wang, Pardis Pishdad-Bozorgi + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123441

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Jun 22, 2019
Citations: 10	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Tongji University, Georgia Institute of Technology

Abstract

This study discusses the organizational characteristics, driving factors, and value perceptions of small- and medium-sized construction enterprises in information and communication technology (ICT) implementation and investigates how the heterogeneous impacts of these features on subsequent ICT implementation practices are manifested. Based on questionnaire responses provided by 338 respondents from the Chinese construction industry, these associations were empirically tested using statistical methods, such as t-test, ANOVA, and correlation test. The analysis results indicate that the engagement of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in ICT is a function of their annual sales turnover and the location in which they are operating, but no correlation was found with age, ownership structure, or business type. Moreover, strategic orientation was found to be the most effective driver in determining SMEs’ ICT-level, followed by pressures from competitors, incentive and mandatory policies from the government, intentions to improve work efficiency and quality, and ICT requirements from clients and partners, in that order. The findings further reveal that the differences in value perceptions generated after the adoption of ICT is the reason why SMEs tend to adopt less expensive ICT, that is, to use packaged rather than customized ICT, which can improve efficiency quickly, without considering the long-term benefits of the selected ICT. These findings provide insights for researchers and policymakers, allowing them to develop an in-depth understanding of the stimuli that are advantageous in ICT implementation in construction SMEs in developing countries.

Highlights

In order to achieve sustainable development in the construction industry, applying information and communication technology (ICT) to solve inherent problems, such as time and cost overruns, inefficiency, and safety and quality issues, has drawn increasing interest from both practitioners and academics over the past decade [1,2]
An important underlying fact is that small- and medium-sized construction enterprises (SMCEs) constitute the largest group in building supply chains, they are very inert in ICT adoption, which is widening the digital divide between large-scale enterprises and small- and medium-sized enterprises [9,10] and influencing the sustainable transformation and upgrading of the construction industry [11]
This study addresses three research questions: (1) Do significant differences exist in SMCEs’ ICT implementation across different organizational characteristics? (2) Is the difference in SMCEs’ ICT implementation a function of external driving forces? and (3) Are there significant differences in ICT levels based on different value perceptions after the implementation of ICT by SMCEs? Here, these research questions are explored using 338 survey data points collected from Chinese construction small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Summary

Introduction

In order to achieve sustainable development in the construction industry, applying information and communication technology (ICT) to solve inherent problems, such as time and cost overruns, inefficiency, and safety and quality issues, has drawn increasing interest from both practitioners and academics over the past decade [1,2]. Due to the lack of finance, personnel, and knowledge relevant to the management and adoption of ICT [10], SMCEs are reticent to adopt new technology [12], invest little money into activities related to innovation [13,14], and are almost incapable of influencing ICT-related policymaking and technology diffusion. All of these limitations have hampered SMCEs’ ability to implement ICT [15,16] and, in turn, influence ICT innovation and diffusion in the entire construction industry [17]

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