An investigation of the factors that impact the intention to adopt and use mICT in the Libyan construction industry

Work in the construction industry is mainly fieldwork with workers being highly mobile. Information flows between construction sites can be facilitated by the use of mobile technologies. Although several studies have investigated the use of mobile technology (mICT) and how it can be used to improve business processes in the construction industry (e.g. Bowden, Dorr, Thrope & Anumba, 2006; Zou, Ye, Peng, & Chen; 2006; Vilkko, Kallonen, & Ikonen, 2008), the amount of mICT use in the construction industry continues to be low compared to other sectors due to several factors such as financial constraints and the lack of techniques for evaluating ICT benefits (ABS, 2012). This research is intended to inform users and future researchers about obstacles that could hinder the adoption and use of mobile technologies in Libya. The major aims of this thesis are: 1) to investigate the factors that affecting the intention of stakeholders to adopt and use this technology in the Libyan construction industry, 2) to explore the benefits that could be gained from adopting and using mICT and 3) to investigate the current uses and the future prospects regarding adopting and using this technology. A research model based on the broader technology acceptance literature was developed to provide a framework for this research. The model was designed to provide a better understanding of the inter-relationships between constructs proposed as likely to have a significant role in mICT technology acceptance in the construction industry. The research model includes a set of constructs believed to influence the intention to adopt and use mICT in the construction industry. These are: perceived usefulness of mICT, perceived ease of use of mICT, perceived credibility of mICT and perceived high cost of technology, perceived mICT self-efficacy and facilitating conditions. The research strategy for this study was survey research and combined both quantitative and qualitative research. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used for collecting the data. A sample of 202 respondents representing the main types of stakeholders in the construction industry was obtained from construction companies in three Libyan cities and 25 of them were also interviewed. The model was tested using Partial Least Square and the results were used to address the first research question, “What are the factors that could influence the intention to adopt and use of mICT by stakeholders in the Libyan construction industry? ”. To answer the other two research questions, a qualitative analysis approach was used which was mainly based on the procedures used by Silverman (2006). The study found that the intention to adopt and use mICT in the Libyan construction industry was directly affected by perceived usefulness of mICT and perceived ease of use of mICT and indirectly by perceived mICT self-efficacy and facilitating conditions. The study also showed that mICT is very beneficial to the stakeholders in the construction industry in numerous areas such as reduction of work time, cost and effort. Moreover, mICT was found to be important to stakeholders for interacting, monitoring, exchanging information and organising and completing work. In addition, the study has also identified the construction industry stakeholders’ perspectives on what the future holds for mICT adoption and use in the construction sector, and the necessity for government support in increasing the number of mobile service providers, establishing investment contracts with international mICT technology suppliers and adopting training programs for stakeholders.