Developing an architectural technology adoption model considering organizational factors: Case of Saudi Arabia

Due to the intricacy of the industry, the architecture service sector has historically been hesitant to adopt new digital technology due to diverse company sizes, client types, and building needs. Lack of knowledge about the advantages of new technologies is the root of the resistance to adoption, which might be exacerbated by a lack of industry-specific technology adoption models that respond to the unique needs of the architecture service industry. This situation is especially the case in Saudi Arabia, where the literature suggests the architectural service sector is a slow adopter of new digital technologies. This dissertation develops a set of hypotheses to investigate multiple architecture-industry-specific factors that past literature has postulated affect digital technology adoption. Two of the main hypotheses it tests are: (1) Industry-specific characteristics that have a direct impact on 'perceived utility' and 'perceived ease of use' factors influence the adoption of digital technology, and (2) that the adoption of new technologies is affected by user satisfaction, user behavior, and customer satisfaction.This study employs a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative and qualitative analysis with a focus on the architectural service sector in Saudi Arabia. Utilizing survey responses from 452 participants and statistical analysis, data for quantitative analysis was created. Thirty semi-structured interviews were used to obtain data for the qualitative analysis to enable crossvalidation of the findings. The interviews helped fill in some knowledge gaps in the literature, such as those on managerial attitudes toward technology. The key contribution of this research is the creation of an architectural technology adoption model (ATAM). The ATAM delineates the factors affecting technology adoption, taking into consideration three levels – user level, client level, and managerial level – which are significant for the technology adoption decision-making process. At the user level, the model concentrates on factors such as user satisfaction and behavior. At the client level, the model explores client satisfaction with technology adoption in organizations. Finally, both the managerial and organizational degrees of technology adoption are examined. The proposed ATAM is validated in this research through extensive hypothesis testing performed using maximum likelihood structural equation modeling in AMOS and thematic analysis using NVivo. The factors identified in the surveys and interviews and the ATAM model developed from this process can be used by industry practitioners in Saudi Arabia and, more broadly, in other countries to better understand how they can overcome barriers to technology adoption. Furthermore, managers using an ATAM may be better placed to influence users to adopt technology successfully and understand the trickle-down effect on client satisfaction associated with organizations using advanced digital technologies.The focus of this study is the practitioners of the Saudi Arabian architectural service sector (including their managers and clients). Future research is required in other contexts, such as developed and underdeveloped nations, to enhance the usability of the ATAM. This study's findings show that organizational characteristics, user behavior, user satisfaction, and client satisfaction all have a major impact on the construction industry's adoption of new technologies. The relevance of the links in the model and the findings of the qualitative interview analysis further verify the ATAM, as a useful model to architectural businesses.