Al-Jallal, A A (1991) Technology adoption and innovation patterns in construction industry in Saudi Arabia: An exploratory study. PhD thesis, University of Texas at Austin, USA.
Abstract
It has been widely recognized that technological innovation is essential for the economic development of all nations. Yet, this topic has hardly been attended to in many sectors outside manufacturing industries and in most countries outside the developed world. In seeking to contribute to filling this knowledge gap, the purpose of this research is to explore the patterns of technological innovation in the construction industry (a sector long neglected by technology researchers) in Saudi Arabia (a rapidly developing country undergoing technological change without clear disposition). In a country case study, the research addresses the issues of innovative behavior and organizational posture of engineering and construction (E&C) firms; technology support infrastructure among government, academic, and research organizations; cooperation linkages within the construction system; and opportunities and challenges for construction innovation in Saudi Arabia. The research uses a hybrid approach design. The core data was obtained from local E&C firms and government and semigovernment engineering departments using questionnaire surveys, and from local universities and research centers using interview techniques. The quantitative and qualitative analyses revealed some important findings. A pattern of modest technology penetration, dormant innovative activity, and limited boundary spanning activity prevails among most respondent E&C firms. Yet, organizational platform indicates positive potential for innovative climate among many firms. In general, engineering firms display more progress in the pursuit of technology and more propensity to innovate than construction firms. The research also reveals some inadequacies in the technology support infrastructure in government, academic, and research organizations; and in their cooperation linkages with E&C firms. The study provides significant implications for industry professionals in attending to technology strategy, structure flexibility and external cooperation; for research community in addressing construction R&D and technology, and contacts with industry; and for policy makers in dealing with technological dependency, rigid regulations, and industry fragmentation.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Tucker, R L |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction firms; developing country; government; innovation; policy; regulation; technology strategy; economic development; flexibility; fragmentation; technological change; technological innovation; case study; interview; questionnaire survey; Saudi Arabia |
| Index terms: | Saudi Arabia, case study, research centre, platform, technology strategy, linkage, technological change, technological innovation, technology adoption, construction industry, penetration, developing country, interview, economic development, survey, exploratory study, construction firm, boundary spanning, fragmentation, manufacturing industry, engineering firm, regulation, qualitative analysis, questionnaire, construction system, construction innovation, cooperation |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, construction type, business, organization, research design and methodology, innovation studies, psychology, innovation and technology management, management, economic development, research methods, Geography, firms, development economics, digital design, market analysis, building construction, industry analysis, political science |
| Topics: | Governance, Sustainability, Construction Technology, Roles and Professions, Engineering Principles, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, International Construction, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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