Primdahl, M B; Forman, M; Frandsen, A F; Pihl, D and Nielsen, A K B (2022) Does the enactment of information and communications technology agreements in a digital construction organisation impact the mental work environment? In: Tutesigensi, A and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 38th Annual ARCOM Conference, 5-7 September 2022, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
Abstract
This study discusses how digital infrastructures in the Danish building industry affect the mental work environment in a project organisation, by focusing on the information and communications technology agreement as a term of reference for the division of labour and the specification of digital work. Based on interviews from a case study, namely a renovation project from a major Danish real estate owner, this paper studies the interactions between social and technical practices in a network and draws on concepts from actor-network theory to analyse the findings. The study sheds light on how the network around the information and communications technology agreement is dominated by one enactment, and it is found that displacements occur when one enactment becomes dominant. In these displacements, the mental work environment is pressurised, which leads to stressors, shifts in core activities and employees' struggle to find meaning in their tasks. However, the study also points out how digital tools can help to ensure a good mental work environment by strengthening project collaboration.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | digital infrastructure, information and communications technology, mental work environment, science and technology studies |
| Index terms: | division of labour, science, agreements, strengthening, stressors, collaboration, communications technology, specification, project organization, interview, interaction, case study, renovation, building industry, digital construction, owner, work environment, actor-network theory, meaning, real estate |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, theoretical framing, real estate economics, behavioral psychology, health conditions and diseases, management, structural engineering, information systems, contract formation, innovation and technology management, specialized education, industry analysis, business economics, sociology, organizational theory, contractual condition, renovation and retrofit |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Stakeholder Management, Urban Studies, Health and Safety, Project Management, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Contract Administration, Education |
| 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