Modeling the influence patterns of barriers to electronic procurement technology usage in construction projects
Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
ISSN: 0969-9988
Article publication date: 8 August 2022
Issue publication date: 28 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the dynamic influences of clustered barriers that hinder electronic procurement technology (EPT) implementation in construction procurement, using the neuro-fuzzy system.
Design/methodology/approach
A comprehensive literature review was conducted and 21 barriers to EPT implementation within construction projects were identified. Based on an expert survey, 121 datasets were gathered for this study. Using mean and normalization analysis for the datasets, 15 out of the 21 barriers were deemed to have critical influences in EPT barriers phenomenon. Subsequently, the critical barriers were classified into five groups: human-related; technological risk-related; government-related; industry growth-related; and financial-related. The relationships and influence patterns between the groups of barriers to EPT implementation were analyzed using the neuro-fuzzy system. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis was performed to examine the dynamic influence levels of the barriers within the hindrance level composition.
Findings
The results reveal that addressing one barrier group does not reduce the high levels of hindrances experienced in EPT implementation. However, addressing at least two barrier groups mostly tends to reduce the hindrance levels for EPT implementation. Further, this study revealed that addressing some barrier group pairings, such as technological risk-related and government-related barriers, while other barrier groups remained at a high level, still resulted in high levels of hindrances to EPT implementation in construction procurement.
Research limitations/implications
This study provides insights for researchers to help them contribute to the development of theory with contemporary approaches based on the influence patterns of barrier interrelationships.
Practical implications
This study provides a model that would help practitioners and decision makers in construction procurement to understand and effectively determine the complex and dynamic influences of barrier groups to EPT uptake, for the development of suitable mitigation strategies.
Originality/value
This study provides novel insights into the complex influence patterns among grouped barriers concerning EPT adoption in the construction industry. Researchers and practitioners are equipped with knowledge on the influence patterns of barriers. This knowledge aids the development of effective strategies that mitigate the combined groups of barriers, and promote the wider implementation of EPT in the construction industry.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study forms part of a PhD research study on electronic procurement adoption for construction procurement, which might share similar background with other papers but with different objectives and scopes. The authors are grateful to the Department of Building and Real Estate of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University for funding this research.
Citation
Yevu, S.K., Yu, A.T.W., Darko, A., Nani, G. and Edwards, D.J. (2023), "Modeling the influence patterns of barriers to electronic procurement technology usage in construction projects", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 30 No. 10, pp. 5133-5159. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-01-2021-0013
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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