The construction industry transformation and the digital divide: Bridging the gap

The small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which are the backbone of any economy are often on the disadvantaged side of the digital divide in the construction industry. With the advent of building information modelling (BIM), the SMEs are facing challenges and are slow with its uptake. Hitherto, extant research studies on BIM have focused primarily on the large firms and there is an observed trend of underrepresentation of the SMEs in BIM studies. Thus, this paper aims to investigate the major drivers of sustainable adoption of Building Information Modelling in SMEs and the dynamics of these drivers in developing countries using interpretive structural modelling approach and Matrice d’Impacts croises-multipication applique a classement (MICMAC) analysis. The findings reveal that organizational readiness is of utmost importance for the proliferation of BIM in SMEs. Also, the independent drivers which are the most important drivers consist of BIM characteristics, internal and external environment drivers and thus portray the BIM adoption as a complex socio-technical system. This study categorizes the drivers for easy intervention of SMEs’ managers and policymakers. It contributes to the nascent studies of BIM adoption in SMEs of developing countries.

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A thematic Review on Industrialised Building System (IBS) Publications from 2015-2019: Analysis of Patterns and Trends for Future Studies of IBS in Malaysia

Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities ◽

10.47836/pjssh.29.1.35 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mohd Zairul

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Construction Industry ◽

Document Analysis ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Future Studies ◽

The Future ◽

Thematic Review ◽

Building System ◽

The Government ◽

Industry Transformation

IBS has been theoretically and practically proven to improve the construction delivery apart from reducing the lead of time and cost throughout its supply chain. Under the Malaysian Construction Industry Transformation Programme (CITP) 2016-2020, it is stated that the government is accelerating the adoption of IBS through mechanisation and modern practices. Despite the government’s initiative, there have been relatively small amounts of materials published discussing the patterns in IBS publications in Malaysia and what the future holds for IBS. This paper explores a thematic review of the literature regarding new definitions and patterns that juxtaposes IBS in the construction industry in Malaysia from 2015 till 2019 by using the thematic review. The findings from the code-to-document analysis using ATLAS.ti 8 found that the patterns and trends on IBS from the year 2015 to 2019. This paper contributes to analysing the patterns and trends of IBS by identifying the thematic code within IBS publications for recommendations of future studies on IBS in Malaysia.

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Transforming the construction sector: an institutional complexity perspective

Construction Innovation ◽

10.1108/ci-04-2021-0071 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Kwadwo Oti-Sarpong ◽

Erika Anneli Pärn ◽

Gemma Burgess ◽

Mohamed Zaki

Keyword(s):

Institutional Theory ◽

Construction Industry ◽

Future Research ◽

Strategic Responses ◽

Institutional Complexity ◽

Content Type ◽

General Contracting ◽

Research Questions ◽

Firm Responses ◽

Industry Transformation

Purpose Government initiatives to improve construction have increasingly become more focused on introducing a repertoire of technologies to transform the sector. In the literature on construction industry transformation through policy-backed initiatives, how firms will respond to the demands to adopt and use innovative technologies and approaches is taken for granted, and there is scarcely any attention given to the institutional implications of transformation agenda. The purpose of this paper is to discuss these gaps and offer directions for future research. Design/methodology/approach Following a synthesis of literature on the UK’s industry transformation agenda, the authors use the concepts of institutional logics, arrangements, complexity and strategic responses to suggest seven research questions that are at the nexus of policy-backed transformation and institutional theory. Findings In this paper, the authors argue that increasing demands for the adoption and use of digital technologies, platforms, manufacturing approaches and other “industry-4.0”-related technologies will reconfigure existing logics and arrangements in the construction industry, creating a problem of institutional complexity for general contracting firms in particular. Originality/value The questions are relevant for our understanding of the nature of institutional complexities, change, strategic firm responses, field-level dynamics and implications for the construction industry in relation to the transformation agenda. This paper is positioned to spur future research towards exploring the consequences of industry transformation through the lens of institutional theory.

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Telemedizin für Ältere – Chancen mehren, kritische Punkte angehen!

Therapeutische Umschau ◽

10.1024/0040-5930/a000721 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 72 (9) ◽

pp. 577-579

Author(s):

Ulrich Otto ◽

Silvan Tarnutzer ◽

Marlene Brettenhofer

Keyword(s):

Digital Divide

Zusammenfassung. Der Nutzen von Telemedizinanwendungen für Ältere ist daran zu messen, inwieweit sie erhöhte Potenziale für eine selbstständige Lebensführung bei guter Lebensqualität ermöglichen können. Idealerweise ist dieser Nutzen am „Gesundheitsstandort Privathaushalt“ abrufbar, eingebettet in einem bedarfs- und bedürfnisgerechten Gesundheitssystem, in welchem sämtliche medizinischen und pflegerischen Prozesse integrativ miteinander vernetzt sind. Ergänzt werden muss dieses System durch verstärkte Koproduktion mit den PatientInnen selbst und deren Angehörigen. Um sich diesen Zielen zu nähern, braucht es ein Umdenken und die Bereitschaft aller AkteurInnen zu tiefgehenden Veränderungen. Medizinische Institutionen müssen sich als lernende Organisationen stärker an den PatientInnen und deren individuellen Bedarfen sowie an intersektoraler und interdisziplinärer Kooperation orientieren. In der Gesundheitspolitik ist es nötig, Verteilungs- und Gerechtigkeitsaspekte stärker zu gewichten. Dabei gilt es besonders, bildungsferneren Schichten und in ländlichen Regionen den Zugang zur Nutzung von Technologien zu erleichtern, um digital divide-Phänomene zu vermeiden. Der Einsatz neuer Gesundheitstechnologien muss deshalb durch flankierende Vorbereitungen und Begleitung durch schnell erreichbare AnsprechpartnerInnen beim Einsatz unterstützt werden. Hinzu kommen Anforderungen an Finanzierungsmodelle und erweiterte Krankenkassenleistungen.

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