Tan, X.; Xue, X.; Wang, R.; Fan, H. and Ji, A. (2026) Exploring digital-real integration in the construction industry: Driving force of digital technology innovation network embedding. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 152(6): 04026070, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Digital-real integration is an important driving force to propel industry transformation, upgrading, and sustainable development. Existing studies have considered digital-real integration as an independent variable, but few have considered it as a dependent variable. This study, taking the construction industry as the research scenario, investigates the impact of network embedding on digital-real integration from a complex network perspective. Using digital technology patents identified by a novel method as the database, this paper constructs a digital technology innovation network. Based on this, it develops a novel indicator to measure digital-real integration at the micro level as the dependent variable, investigates the direct influence of network embedding on digital-real integration, and assesses the moderating role of node clustering in this process. Furthermore, utilizing enterprises' cash flows as a basis, this paper categorizes enterprises into growth, maturity, and decline stages, and examines the effect of embedding on digital-real integration across each of these stages. This study revealed that structural and relational embedding positively impacts digital-real integration, whereas knowledge element clustering exhibits a negative moderating effect. Additionally, an inverted U-shaped relationship was observed between the knowledge element ratio and digital-real integration. It is noteworthy that relational embedding becomes a key factor for construction enterprises in improving digital-real integration level, and construction enterprises can optimize the proportion of knowledge elements to find new transformation opportunities in the decline stage. This paper provides theoretical and practical guidance for construction enterprises to effectively configure their own knowledge structure to enhance the digital-real integration level.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction industry; digital technology innovation; digital-real integration; network embedding |
| Index terms: | dependent variable, digital technology, integration, upgrading, sustainable development, cash flow, clustering, construction industry, transformation, database, independent variable, industry transformation |
| Subjects: | industry analysis, statistical analysis, organizational analysis, data management, financial management, data science, computing systems, business, health safety and environment, strategic management, organization |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Cost Management |
| 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