Influencing factors and critical paths of virtual reality adoption by AEC enterprises based on TOE-SNA

Virtual reality (VR) holds significant potential for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. However, its adoption by AEC enterprises remains relatively low. VR adoption is affected by many factors, and critical factors play essential roles and actively influence the adoption according to specific paths. Therefore, it is necessary to identify these critical factors and paths to improve VR adoption. However, there is currently a lack of research on key influencing factors and paths for AEC enterprises, which greatly hinders VR adoption. To bridge this gap, this study aims to identify the key influencing factors and critical paths for VR adoption in AEC enterprises, focusing on the organizational level. Drawing on the technology-organization-environment (TOE) theory, we categorize and analyze the factors affecting VR adoption. Through a questionnaire survey, we establish a direct connection between these factors and construct an adjacency matrix. Subsequently, we employ social network analysis (SNA) to visualize the social network relationship diagram and analyze network measures. Our findings reveal six critical factors and four critical paths that significantly influence VR adoption. By integrating the TOE-SNA method, this study quantifies the interaction relationship among various factors and identifies critical factors and paths, providing a theoretical foundation for VR adoption in AEC enterprises. Moreover, our research offers practical guidance for government, enterprises, and VR product suppliers to promote VR adoption, enhance adoption rates, and contribute to the long-term development of the industry in the digital transformation era.