Chen, Y.; Qiu, W. and Xiao, M. (2026) Influence mechanisms of digital construction organizations' capabilities on performance: Evidence from SEM and fsqca. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 33(4), pp. 2744-2770. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose – With the rise of digital construction, using organizational capabilities to improve project performance in a turbulent environment has become critical for the high-quality development of the construction industry. However, the complex relationships among them remain unclear. Therefore, this study explores these linear relationships under the digital construction mode and reveals the driving mechanism of multi-factor linkage on project performance. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 263 project participants in digital construction projects in China using a questionnaire. Hypothesis testing was conducted using partial least square structural equation modeling, and the differentiated patterns of project performance formation were revealed through fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. Findings – Organizational information technology, innovation, coordination, integration management and emergency management capabilities improve project performance. Environmental turbulence is a positive moderator between coordination capabilities and project performance, while other capabilities do not align with environmental turbulence. The research obtained five equivalent configurations for achieving high project performance, such as "capability layout" and "internal driven, " and two paths that lead to non-high project performance. Finally, in contrast to existing studies, we discovered the outstanding contribution of emergency management capabilities to project performance and the auxiliary effect of information technology capabilities. Originality/value – This study innovatively integrates a dimensional framework of construction project organizations' capabilities under a digital construction mode and extends the organizational capabilities to the specific and operational capability dimension level. Furthermore, this study opens the "black box" of the influence of organizational capabilities on project performance in environmental turbulence and reveals the differentiated and equivalent configurations for the formation of project performance. The study broadens the theoretical perspective of organizational capabilities on project performance research in the digital context and provides practical enlightenment for guiding the capability configuration of construction project organizations in a turbulent environment. The study broadens the theoretical perspective of organizational capabilities on project performance research in the digital context and provides practical enlightenment for guiding the capability configuration of construction project organizations in a turbulent environment.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction project organizations' capabilities; digital construction; environmental turbulence; project performance |
| Index terms: | structural equation modelling, qualitative comparative analysis, configuration, questionnaire, evidence, emergency management, construction project, turbulence, integration, methodology, organizational capability, information technology, partial least square, China, digital construction, linkage, project performance, coordination, dimension, testing, construction industry |
| Subjects: | organizational analysis, sociology, industry analysis, systems engineering, statistical analysis, information systems, management, project management theory and practice, fluid mechanics, health monitoring assessment and metrics, data collection methods, business, computing systems, research methods, Geography, production management, financial risk, professional practice, evaluation and assessment methods |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Engineering Principles, Geographical Context, Project Management, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Organizational Design, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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