Mokhtar Azizi, Z; Cochrane, J; Thurairajah, N and Mokhtar Azizi, N S (2023) Remote working in construction: Assessing the affordance of digitisation. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 13(1), pp. 5-19. ISSN 2044-124X
Abstract
Purpose: As remote working becomes increasingly popular, remote working could unlock new ways of working through digitisation. However, the construction sector has been slow to adopt digitisation in its processes, making digitisation difficult to assess whether this affordance may be well received and the current capabilities of digitisation to achieve this effectively. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the interest in remote working amongst construction sector personnel and to examine the factors affecting remote working through digitisation affordances. Design/methodology/approach: Based on a case study of one of the largest contractor firms in the United Kingdom, an online questionnaire survey was used to collect responses from 125 construction professionals. Statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) was used to do basic statistical analysis on the results. Findings: The findings show that there is a general appetite for remote working on a flexible basis where a mix of “on-site” and “off-site” arrangement was deemed practical. This could potentially unlock significant time and cost savings as well as productivity gains. The main factors affecting remote working were the availability of interconnected systems allowing efficient communication and digital infrastructure that enable automated processes. Research limitations/implications: The research is limited to a large contractor company and may not be appropriate for small and medium-sized companies. The findings may benefit organisations to evaluate the practical needs of ensuring effective remote working in the construction industry and unlocking efficiencies. Originality/value: The paper adds value to understanding the affordances and constraints of digitisation for remote working from the perspective of construction professionals.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | automation; construction management; project management; project teams; technology; virtual work; working practices |
| Index terms: | personnel, contractor firm, efficiency, automated process, package, case study, working practice, remote working, productivity, United Kingdom, statistical analysis, survey, social science, construction professional, methodology, questionnaire, automation, cost saving, construction sector, affordance, construction industry, project management, project team |
| Subjects: | industry analysis, behavioral psychology, management, theoretical framing, research methods, performance management, economics, automation and robotics, Geography, professional development, project management theory and practice, data science, contractual arrangements, project delivery, data collection methods, organization |
| Topics: | Procurement, Geographical Context, Project Management, Research Practice, Information Management, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Organizational Design, Human Resources, Quality Management, Design Practice, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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