Cai, S; Ma, Z; Skibniewski, M J and Guo, J (2020) Construction automation and robotics: From one-offs to follow-ups based on practices of Chinese construction companies. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 146(10): 05020013, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
The follow-up issue is one of the major factors that limit the application of construction automation and robotics. Specifically, many research results with fundamentally good ideas end up gathering dust on a shelf without any follow-up research and development (R&D) or applications. Nevertheless, some construction companies have successful experience in the follow-up issue. Therefore, this study presents and analyzes the processes from R&D to follow-ups of four representative Chinese construction companies that developed their own automation and robotic products and implemented them continuously. Based on the four cases, an intercase analysis was conducted, and 11 influential factors that lead to successful follow-ups were identified. To understand the identified factors effectively, they were then categorized according to an existing theoretical framework, i.e., the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework, which is widely used in studies on innovation adoption. As a result, four technological factors (interdisciplinary cooperation, continuous R&D, pilot test, and technological foresight), five organizational factors (company size, human resources, development strategies, organizational structure, and management system), and two environmental factors (market demand and competitive pressure) are obtained. Suggestions are proposed for both the technology providers and adopters, such as establishing industrial alliances, training interdisciplinary personnel and skilled workers, and expanding the business scope to promote wider implementations. It is expected to be valuable for the stakeholders in many countries and regions with the need to implement construction automation and robotics because the analysis has not been confined to the practice in China.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | automation and robotics; construction company; follow-up issue; research and development |
| Index terms: | construction company, human resource, strategy, innovation adoption, research and development, management system, automation, organizational structure, personnel, robotics, influential factor, China, skilled worker, cooperation, environmental factor, implementation, organizational factor |
| Subjects: | risk assessment, Geography, sociology, management, organization, innovation studies, environmental science, contractual arrangements, automation and robotics, psychology, research management, business |
| Topics: | Geographical Context, Digital Applications, Procurement, Human Resources, Research Practice, Risk Management, Sustainability, Organizational Design, Business Strategy |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here