Regionaal Bouwen aan Human Capital: The ‘Normalization’ of the Usage of Digital Tools in the Construction Sector

Research output: Book/ReportReport

Abstract

This research, part of the Regionaal Bouwen aan Human Capital (RBHC) project, focuses on understanding the level of digitalization in the construction sector and how to increase the extent to which people employ digital tools. We involved relevant stakeholders in a study that employs Normalization Process Theory (NPT) to explore the extent to which digital technologies are used in people’s everyday working routines. NPT is a conceptual framework to evaluate how change is adopted in the field of science and technology studies. This report presents and discusses the preliminary results of fifteen semi-structured interviews among office workers of construction companies of all sorts and sizes situated in the south of the Netherlands. This study concludes that digital technologies are not employed if they require a time investment that is perceived as detrimental in the short term or if they present new challenges that must be tackled systematically (e.g., data sharing). This type of decision concerns company culture and management’s attitude and trust toward digital technologies. Only by changing the belief that digitalization is an obstacle to productivity will it be possible to advance the normalization of digitalization further and/or at a quicker pace.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages18
Publication statusPublished - 28 Mar 2024

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