Project management processes in the adoption of smart building technologies: a systematic review of constraints
Smart and Sustainable Built Environment
ISSN: 2046-6099
Article publication date: 5 May 2020
Issue publication date: 17 June 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The necessity for sustainable development and high building performance has led to the adoption of smart building technologies (SBTs) in the construction community. The SBTs adoption has been hindered in many different parts of the world due to several constraints underpinning the project management processes to help adopt SBTs. This paper presents a systematic review of relevant literature on barriers underpinning the project management processes on the adoption of SBTs.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a systematic review of relevant literature on barriers to technology adoption published in academic peer-reviewed journals and conference papers. The study adopted a systematic review technique on 56 relevant articles and conference papers in relation to barriers to adoption of technology, and barrier frequency was employed to select the most reported barriers.
Findings
The study revealed the most reported barriers underpinning project management process towards SBTs adoption, which include lengthy approval process for new SBTs, structure and organization of the construction industry, higher cost for smart construction practices and materials, unfamiliarity with smart building technology and technical difficulty during construction process.
Practical implications
To both the industry practitioners and policymakers, this review provides a valuable reference during implementation. Also, to the academic scholars on embarking on further empirical studies, the developed checklist of SBTs barriers could be important and useful.
Originality/value
This study has contributed to the knowledge of barriers underpinning the project management processes on SBTs adoption by identifying the most reported barriers in literature.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper forms part of a large MPhil. research project aimed at developing Technology Adoption Framework for Smart Building Technologies in Ghana. The authors would like to thank the Department of Construction Technology and Management of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology for organizing research seminars to help improve the research project. Finally, we are extremely grateful to the editors and anonymous reviewers whose invaluable comments and suggestions substantially helped in improving the quality of this paper.
Citation
Ghansah, F.A., Owusu-Manu, D.-G. and Ayarkwa, J. (2021), "Project management processes in the adoption of smart building technologies: a systematic review of constraints", Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, Vol. 10 No. 2, pp. 208-226. https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-12-2019-0161
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited