Moscati, A and Engström, S (2019) Digitalization and industrialization: Exploration of the current and future challenges in the Swedish built environment sector. In: Gorse, C and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 35th Annual ARCOM Conference, 2-4 September 2019, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK.
Abstract
Digitalization is a central topic in the Swedish government agenda and digitalization of the building sector, as the largest single sector in Sweden, is with reason seen as a crucial goal. In the Swedish strategic innovation programme Smart Built Environment (SBE), digitalization is also addressed and explored as a means to reduce environmental impact, reduce planning and construction time, reduce total construction costs and enable for new business logic in the built environment sector. One of the projects within the programme aims to measure effects and consequences of digitalization and industrialization to support the long-term assessment of the progress towards the programme goals. In this paper is presented the main findings from the first measurement, addressing a sample of programme partners and their focus on digitalization and industrialization and what they perceive as the main challenges to reach the expected effects of changes and investments made in these areas during the period January 2016- December 2017. Data was collected during 2018 through interviews and questionnaires. Findings show that much focus among addressed organizations has been on digitalizing the information flow within and between organizations, yet many organizations state they now struggler with getting the organization and working methods “in place” to also benefit from the (mainly technical) investments made. Many of the respondents also express having implemented or at least initiated the implementation of applications in digitalization that are new to the Swedish built environment sector. Yet, there seem to be significant differences between what levels of digitalization different actors currently find themselves at, as well as what they are aiming for, which has implications for the efficiency of the information flow. Moreover, what is understood to contribute to further digitalization and a more unbroken information flow is described differently within as well as between organizations.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | digitalization; industrialization; information flow; BIM; change. |
| Index terms: | exploration, questionnaire, environmental impact, built environment, implementation, construction time, interview, efficiency, digitalization, construction cost, industrialization, information flow, programme, Sweden |
| Subjects: | economic development, performance management, Geography, project controls, infrastructure and transport systems, information systems, data collection methods, environmental impact, digital technology, environmental resource management, contractual arrangements, financial and cost management |
| Topics: | Urban Studies, Digital Applications, Quality Management, Time Control, Cost Management, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Sustainability, Procurement |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
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