Elbashbishy, T S; Ali, G G and El-adaway, I H (2022) Blockchain technology in the construction industry: Mapping current research trends using social network analysis and clustering. Construction Management and Economics, 40(5), pp. 406-427. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
Blockchain represents an evolving technology for distributed and secure recording and sharing of information. Meanwhile, blockchain has thrived in banking, finance, and supply chain; its usage within the construction industry is still in its infancy. To this end, the existing literature falls short in providing comprehensive quantitative understanding, within a systems-based analytic context, of the factors affecting blockchain utilization in construction applications. This paper fills this knowledge gap. The authors: (1) conducted an extensive literature review on blockchain implementation in the construction domain; (2) identified a list of 41 factors affecting blockchain implementation in construction projects categorized in four categories: challenges, needs, requirements, and capabilities; (3) utilized a social network analysis (SNA) approach on a database of 111 publications to quantitatively analyze the literature as related to the aforementioned factors; and (4) performed clustering analysis on the SNA graphs to determine the combinations of factors that are most likely co-occurring in research publications. SNA results indicate that while the most investigated factor was “increased trust and transparency between project parties”, the least studied factors included: “cash upfront funding system”, “change payment processes and procedures”, “smart contracts design errors”, “cryptocurrency fluctuations”, “lack of sufficiently skilled personnel”, and “increased awareness and capabilities of personnel”. Also, clustering outcomes highlight that some combinations of factors are not well-represented in current scholarly efforts. Such imbalance and consequent knowledge gaps may contribute to the actual implementation rate of blockchain in construction applications. Ultimately, this paper provides a roadmap for potential future directions of blockchain construction-related research.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | blockchain technology; construction industry; information and communication technology; network analysis; social network analysis |
| Index terms: | funding, implementation, smart contract, construction industry, clustering, transparency, blockchain, network analysis, design error, falls, database, mapping, construction project, publication, personnel, information and communication technology, social network analysis, literature review, banking, project party |
| Subjects: | spatial and geospatial analysis, research methods, health risk and incident analysis, management, professional development, production management, sociology, data management, industry analysis, research dissemination and communication, computing systems, digital technology, economic analysis, contractual arrangements, data analysis and analytics, data science, professional practice |
| Topics: | Procurement, Stakeholder Management, Project Management, Research Practice, Information Management, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Design Practice, Digital Applications |
| 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