Mbaraja, T Z and Moyo, T (2025) Insights on virtual reality adoption for construction workers' training in Zimbabwe. Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers: Management, Procurement and Law, 178(2), pp. 103-111. ISSN 17514304
Abstract
Low skills are evident in the Zimbabwean construction industry. While virtual reality (VR) is a possible solution, there is limited evidence of how it can significantly enhance construction workers' skills. Hence, this study examined key stakeholder insights into VR adoption and how it can enhance construction workers' skills. A positivist approach was used, and questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data from building contractors and technical and vocational training centres. The data was analysed using mean ranks, mean scores, standard deviation, and Spearman's correlation. Results showed stakeholders' similar perceptions towards VR adoption. Building firm professionals are, however, more aware of VR than lecturers. Conversely, lecturers placed more importance on VR adoption. Stakeholders deem all features of VR to be critical for training. Furthermore, stakeholders believe that adopting VR in training positively impacts improving construction workers' skills. Recommendations include fostering collaboration among stakeholders to encourage the adoption and usage of VR. The benefits of VR adoption include enhanced workers' skills critical for productivity improvement and training institutions' improvement of content delivery methods and curricula meeting industry needs. The limitation of the study was the lack of a qualitative inquiry; however, further studies can implement mixed methods for a broader analysis.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction; productivity; UN SDG 8: decent work and economic growth; UN SDG 9: industry, innovation and infrastructure; virtual reality; workforce; Zimbabwe |
| Index terms: | building firm, virtual reality, deviation, construction worker, productivity, building contractor, Zimbabwe, questionnaire, delivery method, economic growth, collaboration, evidence, mixed method, vocational training, construction industry |
| Subjects: | delivery method, evaluation and assessment methods, management, data collection methods, professional development, virtual reality, Geography, financial and cost management, organization, practitioner, economic development, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Procurement, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Digital Applications, Organizational Design, Business Strategy, Geographical Context, Education, Cost Management |
| 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