Akmam Syed Zakaria, S; Gajendran, T; Skitmore, M and Brewer, G (2018) Key factors influencing the decision to adopt industrialised building systems technology in the Malaysian construction industry: An inter-project perspective. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 14(1-2), pp. 27-45. ISSN 1745-2007
Abstract
The factors impacting the adoption of industrialised building systems (IBS) technology is gaining increasing attention in Malaysia, particularly because of the slower-than-expected pace of adoption. This paper aims to identify the factors that influence the decision to use IBS in construction projects. The research methodology is embedded in an interpretative phenomenological paradigm that is applied through semi-structured face-to-face interviews with a group of 27 experienced construction stakeholders from across the industry. The 'inter-project perspective' is contextualised through an interpretative content analysis that synthesises varied accounts of interviewees to identify the influence of different factors on IBS adoption. The findings group the factors that influence IBS adoption decisions into 'structural', 'contextual' and 'behavioural' themes. The 'structural' and 'contextual' themes have five factors impacting the IBS decision, whereas 'behavioural' has four factors. The 14 factors are project condition, procurement setup, management approach, communication process, decision-making style, economics conditions, technology development, government involvement, sustainability feature, stakeholders' participation, experience, bounded rationality, awareness and attitude. These factors are influenced by 49 'aspects'. It is suggested that the IBS adoption decision is complex and influenced by many interconnected 'aspects', beyond government incentives, cost, attitudes and skills. Moreover, a more integrative approach that considers all factors is needed to make the IBS adoption decision. However, because the intensity of influence of these factors/aspects may differ country to country, as may the nature of the construction industry, any attempt to develop a strategy or policy to increase IBS adoption or integration needs to be targeted.The factors impacting the adoption of industrialised building systems (IBS) technology is gaining increasing attention in Malaysia, particularly because of the slower-than-expected pace of adoption. This paper aims to identify the factors that influence the decision to use IBS in construction projects. The research methodology is embedded in an interpretative phenomenological paradigm that is applied through semi-structured face-to-face interviews with a group of 27 experienced construction stakeholders from across the industry. The 'inter-project perspective' is contextualised through an interpretative content analysis that synthesises varied accounts of interviewees to identify the influence of different factors on IBS adoption. The findings group the factors that influence IBS adoption decisions into 'structural', 'contextual' and 'behavioural' themes. The 'structural' and 'contextual' themes have five factors impacting the IBS decision, whereas 'behavioural' has four factors. The 14 factors are project condition, procurement setup, management approach, communication process, decision-making style, economics conditions, technology development, government involvement, sustainability feature, stakeholders' participation, experience, bounded rationality, awareness and attitude. These factors are influenced by 49 'aspects'. It is suggested that the IBS adoption decision is complex and influenced by many interconnected 'aspects', beyond government incentives, cost, attitudes and skills. Moreover, a more integrative approach that considers all factors is needed to make the IBS adoption decision. However, because the intensity of influence of these factors/aspects may differ country to country, as may the nature of the construction industry, any attempt to develop a strategy or policy to increase IBS adoption or integration needs to be targeted.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | decision-making; industrialised building systems; building projects; construction industry; construction; incentives; government procurement; decision making; project management; project engineering; procurement management; sustainable development; industrial development; technology; sustainability; content analysis |
| Index terms: | Malaysia, interview, sustainable development, procurement management, industrial development, industrialized building system, face, content analysis, strategy, government procurement, decision-making style, decision-making, project engineering, paradigm, integration, construction project, bounded rationality, research methodology, construction industry, technology development, project management |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, construction type, research design and methodology, control systems, psychology, innovation and technology management, data analysis and analytics, management, education and knowledge transfer, decision-making and reasoning, production management, Geography, health safety and environment, project management theory and practice, organizational analysis, building construction, decision analysis, industry analysis, procurement strategy |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context, Engineering Principles, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Procurement, Construction Technology, Risk Management, Organizational Design |
| 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