Strategies for digital transformation in construction projects: stakeholders' perceptions and actor dynamics for Industry 4.0

Abstract

This study explores and presents the roadmap of industry 4.0 for the Indian construction industry with particular reference to project management practices. Accordingly, this study explores stakeholder dynamics for adopting digital technologies in the construction sector, especially those affecting construction project management. The study adopted one focus group with five participating panellists that provided the qualitative data. This is followed by a questionnaire survey with wider practitioners from the public and private sectors to validate the findings and rank the hypothesis to enable the implementation. Based on a focus group, this study proposes thirteen hypotheses describing stakeholders' dynamics. Furthermore, based on the questionnaire survey validation, this study finds that the top four strategies are stakeholder integration, process re-engineering, training activities, and the need to generate federated data. We interpret the journey of industry 4.0 in the construction industry as having its effect from at least four perception frames: redundancy, accommodation, amplification, and introduction. Practitioners can make process changes in their organisations while delivering projects using industry 4.0 in the construction sector. The findings are contextual to the Indian construction industry. While there is a richness of data that emanated from experienced practitioners, future case studies could enhance the applicability of the findings. The article takes a visionary stand to enable practical aspects of adopting industry 4.0 in its full measure.