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Investigating the usability and usefulness of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and its effect on Technology Readiness (TR) and Technology Adoption (TA) in the SA construction industry

There is limited research that explores how Technology Readiness (TR) and Technology Adoption (TA) are predicted in the attainment of effective project management and collaboration in the South African construction industry. Despite the various documented benefits of Building Information Modelling (...

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Main Author: Ayirebi, Mpumelelo
Other Authors: Windapo, Abimbola
Format: Thesis
Language:Eng
Published: Department of Construction Economics and Management 2025
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access_status_str Open Access
author Ayirebi, Mpumelelo
author2 Windapo, Abimbola
author_browse Ayirebi, Mpumelelo
Windapo, Abimbola
author_facet Windapo, Abimbola
Ayirebi, Mpumelelo
author_sort Ayirebi, Mpumelelo
collection Thesis
description There is limited research that explores how Technology Readiness (TR) and Technology Adoption (TA) are predicted in the attainment of effective project management and collaboration in the South African construction industry. Despite the various documented benefits of Building Information Modelling (BIM), developing countries such as South Africa (SA) have experienced low levels of its adoption in the construction industry. Extant literature indicates that, for example, the lack of understanding of usability and usefulness can lead to inefficient adoption of technologies such as BIM. Further, various barriers, such as financial barriers, lack of motivation for implementation and unawareness of its benefits plague the successful implementation of BIM in SA. This study aims to ascertain the level of BIM Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU), BIM Perceived Usefulness (PU), BIM Technology Readiness (TR) and BIM Technology Adoption (TA) in the context of the South African construction industry. The study also aims to investigate the influence of BIM PEOU and BIM PU on BIM TR and BIM TA. The research adopted a quantitative research approach, employing a survey questionnaire administered to core construction industry professionals, namely Architects, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Construction Project Managers and Construction Managers in SA. The study found that BIM is generally deemed to be neither easy nor difficult to use, however some professionals, such as Engineers, find it significantly easier to use in comparison to other professionals, such as Quantity Surveyors. BIM is found to be useful, and in some cases extremely useful. Respondents were found to be generally indifferent regarding their propensity to adopt new technologies such as BIM. Despite this, BIM adoption was viewed positively. BIM PEOU and BIM PU was found to positively influence BIM TR and BIM TA. Further, BIM PU was found to have a stronger, positive influence on BIM TR and BIM TA than BIM PEOU. It is concluded that BIM usability and BIM usefulness are both predictors of BIM TR and BIM TA. The study provides a meaningful contribution to the BIM body of knowledge in the context of the SA construction industry, as it confirms Usability and Usefulness as key drivers to the current and future Technology Readiness and Technology Adoption levels. This is useful to determine how to improve on the low levels of BIM adoption in SA. The study recommends further research to be done towards specific case studies in SA, extending the research approach towards a mixed methods study to collect more qualitative data. It also recommends extending the study to non-core construction industry professionals and contractors, to provide a deeper understanding of the influence of BIM PEOU and BIM PU on BIM TR and BIM TA.
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institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language Eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:32:51.499Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2025
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spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/41467 Investigating the usability and usefulness of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and its effect on Technology Readiness (TR) and Technology Adoption (TA) in the SA construction industry Ayirebi, Mpumelelo Windapo, Abimbola Project Management There is limited research that explores how Technology Readiness (TR) and Technology Adoption (TA) are predicted in the attainment of effective project management and collaboration in the South African construction industry. Despite the various documented benefits of Building Information Modelling (BIM), developing countries such as South Africa (SA) have experienced low levels of its adoption in the construction industry. Extant literature indicates that, for example, the lack of understanding of usability and usefulness can lead to inefficient adoption of technologies such as BIM. Further, various barriers, such as financial barriers, lack of motivation for implementation and unawareness of its benefits plague the successful implementation of BIM in SA. This study aims to ascertain the level of BIM Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU), BIM Perceived Usefulness (PU), BIM Technology Readiness (TR) and BIM Technology Adoption (TA) in the context of the South African construction industry. The study also aims to investigate the influence of BIM PEOU and BIM PU on BIM TR and BIM TA. The research adopted a quantitative research approach, employing a survey questionnaire administered to core construction industry professionals, namely Architects, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Construction Project Managers and Construction Managers in SA. The study found that BIM is generally deemed to be neither easy nor difficult to use, however some professionals, such as Engineers, find it significantly easier to use in comparison to other professionals, such as Quantity Surveyors. BIM is found to be useful, and in some cases extremely useful. Respondents were found to be generally indifferent regarding their propensity to adopt new technologies such as BIM. Despite this, BIM adoption was viewed positively. BIM PEOU and BIM PU was found to positively influence BIM TR and BIM TA. Further, BIM PU was found to have a stronger, positive influence on BIM TR and BIM TA than BIM PEOU. It is concluded that BIM usability and BIM usefulness are both predictors of BIM TR and BIM TA. The study provides a meaningful contribution to the BIM body of knowledge in the context of the SA construction industry, as it confirms Usability and Usefulness as key drivers to the current and future Technology Readiness and Technology Adoption levels. This is useful to determine how to improve on the low levels of BIM adoption in SA. The study recommends further research to be done towards specific case studies in SA, extending the research approach towards a mixed methods study to collect more qualitative data. It also recommends extending the study to non-core construction industry professionals and contractors, to provide a deeper understanding of the influence of BIM PEOU and BIM PU on BIM TR and BIM TA. 2025-06-20T17:16:51Z 2025-06-20T17:16:51Z 2025 2025-06-20T16:56:12Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41467 Eng application/pdf Department of Construction Economics and Management Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment University of Cape town
spellingShingle Project Management
Ayirebi, Mpumelelo
Investigating the usability and usefulness of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and its effect on Technology Readiness (TR) and Technology Adoption (TA) in the SA construction industry
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Investigating the usability and usefulness of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and its effect on Technology Readiness (TR) and Technology Adoption (TA) in the SA construction industry
title_full Investigating the usability and usefulness of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and its effect on Technology Readiness (TR) and Technology Adoption (TA) in the SA construction industry
title_fullStr Investigating the usability and usefulness of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and its effect on Technology Readiness (TR) and Technology Adoption (TA) in the SA construction industry
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the usability and usefulness of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and its effect on Technology Readiness (TR) and Technology Adoption (TA) in the SA construction industry
title_short Investigating the usability and usefulness of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and its effect on Technology Readiness (TR) and Technology Adoption (TA) in the SA construction industry
title_sort investigating the usability and usefulness of building information modelling bim and its effect on technology readiness tr and technology adoption ta in the sa construction industry
topic Project Management
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41467
work_keys_str_mv AT ayirebimpumelelo investigatingtheusabilityandusefulnessofbuildinginformationmodellingbimanditseffectontechnologyreadinesstrandtechnologyadoptiontainthesaconstructionindustry