Ma, R; Mao, C; Yuan, J; Jiang, C and Lou, P (2025) Evaluation for digital transformation capability of construction enterprises: A case study in China. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 32(12), pp. 8239-8272. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose – With the development of a new generation of digital technologies, digital transformation (DT) has become an inevitable trend for enterprises to achieve development in various industries. Nevertheless, the contradiction between the "fragmented" use of digital technologies and the "systematic" transformation of the industry leads to the underperformance of DT in the construction industry. Whilst previous studies have examined why DT is needed and how separate digital technologies can be used in construction projects, they failed to specify effective tools that can help enterprises identify key resources that facilitate DT from the organisational perspective. Design/methodology/approach – This study established an objective assessment framework for evaluating the digital transformation capability (DTC) of construction enterprises in identifying limitations in their transformation efforts. This study also established a management entropy quantitative model and a comprehensive capability evaluation model of DT to analyse the DT performance of construction enterprises from the internal and external perspectives. Data were collected from 95 listed enterprises in China's construction industry in 2020 as a case study. Findings – This study concluded that enterprise profitability provides a strong endogenous driving force for DT. Research and development capabilities and DT proficiency of enterprises are the most critical factors in facilitating DT. In addition, China's construction enterprises' DT was characterised by uneven development and low orderliness. The lack of a unified digital integration platform is key to cracking the dilemma. Originality/value – This paper systematically identified key DTC in construction enterprises and proposed an objective framework for measuring DTC to enhance the DT performance of these enterprises.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | assessment framework; construction industry; digital transformation capability; dissipative structure; management entropy |
| Index terms: | profitability, construction industry, case study, platform, transformation, critical factor, methodology, integration, research and development, construction project, China, digital technology, entropy |
| Subjects: | research methods, production management, Geography, digital design, research management, economic analysis, organizational analysis, industry analysis, thermal systems, data collection methods, risk assessment, business, computing systems |
| Topics: | Project Management, Geographical Context, Risk Management, Sustainability, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Digital Applications, Organizational Design |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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