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Digitalization of construction-phase information management by project owners: qualitative analysis of potential benefits and probable factors

Qais K. Jahanger (Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq) (School of Civil and Construction Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA)

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

ISSN: 0969-9988

Article publication date: 8 October 2024

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Abstract

Purpose

The US construction industry has been relatively slow to employ digital information technologies. The lack of adoption by project owners is a result of them not having a solid understanding of probable factors (PFs) that could influence the implementation of such systems and potential benefits (PBs) that can serve as key motivators and an assessment instrument. Thus, this article aims to study PBs of digital construction-phase information management (DCIM) systems for project owners and PFs that could influence the implementation of such systems by project owners.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative data collection and analysis methods were followed to conduct the research. The qualitative data (information) regarding PBs and PFs were collected using a survey to subject matter experts and the content analysis method was used to analyze the data.

Findings

Findings show that almost all the qualitative data regarding PBs of DCIM systems are positive, and these data support 10 of 18 PBs with which they were compared. The qualitative data that is negative does not support one PB. Findings also show that all the qualitative data regarding the PFs are confirmatory, and these data support 14 of 28 PFs with which they were compared. The most supported PB is improvement in the efficiency of documentation within the organization and the most supported PF is upper management support.

Originality/value

The primary contribution of this research is in increasing project owners’ understanding of PBs of DCIM systems and PFs that could influence the implementation of such systems.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Mustansiriyah University (www.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq) Baghdad, Iraq, and Oregon State University (www.oregonstate.edu), Corvallis, USA, for their support of the presented work.

Citation

Jahanger, Q.K. (2024), "Digitalization of construction-phase information management by project owners: qualitative analysis of potential benefits and probable factors", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-07-2023-0673

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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