Abstract:

The construction industry's lag in digital adoption is particularly pronounced in stakeholder management (SM), a domain critical to project success yet plagued by fragmented processes and complex interpersonal dynamics. This study confronts this challenge by developing a comprehensive System Dynamics Model (SDM) to unravel the intricate web of barriers that impede the integration of digital tools in construction SM. Employing a robust multi-method approach, the research first conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) guided by the PRISMA protocol, analyzing 61 peer-reviewed studies to map the landscape of digital tools and their associated adoption challenges. The findings identify 16 distinct digital tools, with Building Information Modeling (BIM) emerging as the most prominent (25.24% of mentions) and categorize 32 unique barriers. The most pervasive challenges include data management, privacy, and security concerns; high implementation costs; significant integration difficulties; a widespread resistance to change; and a critical lack of technical expertise. The core novelty and contribution of this research lie in the subsequent phase: the translation of these fragmented findings into an integrated System Dynamics Model. This model was formulated and validated through a focus group discussion with eight experienced UK-based construction project managers. The resulting SDM moves beyond a mere list of barriers to visually map the causal relationships and feedback loops between these challenges, effectively demonstrating how they reinforce one another to create a systemic "digital impasse." It distinguishes between software and hardware-specific barriers while highlighting their points of convergence. This framework provides academics with a new theoretical lens for understanding technological adoption and offers practitioners a practical diagnostic and decision-support tool. By identifying key leverage points within the system, the model empowers project stakeholders to design targeted, strategic interventions that can break cycles of resistance and foster a more conducive environment for digital transformation, ultimately leading to enhanced stakeholder engagement and improved project performance.

Please choose your submission type: Full Paper

Primary Track: Project Experiences

Keywords: Digitalisation, data, AI, etc;Systems Thinking;Project Work;Knowledge and Learning;Transformation Projects

Menu

Mr. Ahmed Bahada