EVALUATING CRITICAL DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION LEVEL OF PRECONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING PROJECTS

Abstract

This research introduces a comprehensive model for assessing the readiness of buildings for digital transformation in the preconstruction phase. The proposed model employs structural equation modeling (SEM) and encompasses a comprehensive list of essential factors for attaining success. This tool aims to assist industry stakeholders in evaluating operational efficiency regarding digital transformation readiness in the preconstruction phase (DTRPC) and to analyze the efficacy and constraints of DTRPC across different management tiers. Critical success factors were discerned through expert interviews and an analysis of pertinent literature. The variables were subsequently validated through two iterations of the Delphi technique, incorporating feedback from 13 highly qualified experts. An online questionnaire was distributed to industry professionals, who evaluated the relative significance of the factors. Responses to the questionnaire were gathered from a sample of more than 200 individuals across various professional domains. Subsequently, SEM was employed to quantitatively assess the interrelations among the diverse elements of the DTRPC success factors. The objective was to assess the influence of each construct on the overall readiness level. The model was rigorously assessed to ascertain its robustness and stability across various parameters, including accuracy, adherence to multivariate normality, and reliability and validity. Hypothesis analysis was additionally performed. The gathered data were utilised to formulate the proposed DTRPC model, which comprises 30 critical performance indicators categorised into four groups. SEM revealed a substantial correlation between the operational indicators of these essential factors and the construct groups, along with the impact of effective DTRPC constructs on overall project performance. This research enhances existing knowledge by identifying critical indicators for assessing the efficacy of the DTRPC model and employing them to develop a comprehensive global SEM, which serves as a tool for measuring readiness during the preconstruction phase. This has the potential to offer critical support to organizations, project managers, and policymakers in making informed decisions.