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Use of information and communication technologies by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in building construction

Author

Listed:
  • Emrah Acar
  • Ismail Kocak
  • Yildiz Sey
  • David Arditi

Abstract

Scholars usually agree that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) active in construction are not very innovative when compared with large-size construction enterprises. This is particularly evident in the case of adoption and diffusion of innovation associated with information and communication technologies (ICTs). Although ICTs are powerful instruments for the rapid and broader diffusion of technical knowledge, few SMEs are fully able to exploit their benefits. There is little evidence of how SMEs perceive ICTs and of the extent to which these technologies are actually used in the construction industry. There is a relationship between organizational size and the use of ICTs within the SMEs in the building construction sector in Turkey. A set of ICT variables comprising the perception, investment, usage and the software preferences of SMEs were analysed by making use of the data collected in a survey of a randomly selected sample of 227 building construction firms in Turkey. In contrast to the common approaches that consider SMEs as part of a homogeneous set of firms with similar characteristics, this study seeks the differences in ICT-related attitudes between SMEs of different sizes. Rather than using arbitrarily pre-defined intervals to classify firms by size, cluster analysis was used in this study. Although what emerges as a whole is the common under-utilization of ICTs by SMEs in building construction, 'organizational size' appears to explain some of the ICT-related attitude differences within these SMEs. Policy makers can consider using the findings of this study as inputs in their activities, as these findings represent a generic overview of the diffusion of new technologies and can assist in identifying future research directions.

Suggested Citation

  • Emrah Acar & Ismail Kocak & Yildiz Sey & David Arditi, 2005. "Use of information and communication technologies by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in building construction," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(7), pages 713-722.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:conmgt:v:23:y:2005:i:7:p:713-722
    DOI: 10.1080/01446190500127112
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fernando Olivera, 2000. "Memory Systems In Organizations: An Empirical Investigation Of Mechanisms For Knowledge Collection, Storage And Access," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(6), pages 811-832, September.
    2. Martin Sexton & Peter Barrett, 2003. "Appropriate innovation in small construction firms," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(6), pages 623-633.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Hao Lu & Pardis Pishdad-Bozorgi & Guangbin Wang & Yingxia Xue & Dan Tan, 2019. "ICT Implementation of Small- and Medium-Sized Construction Enterprises: Organizational Characteristics, Driving Forces, and Value Perceptions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-20, June.
    3. Clegg, Ben & Little, Paul & Govette, Steve & Logue, Joel, 2017. "Transformation of a small-to-medium-sized enterprise to a multi-organisation product-service solution provider," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 81-91.
    4. Arno J. Van der Vlist & Marien H. Vrolijk & Geert P.M.R. Dewulf, 2014. "On information and communication technology and production cost in construction industry: evidence from the Netherlands," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(6), pages 641-651, June.
    5. Kevin Wachira, 2014. "Adoption of E-Business by Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya: Barriers and Facilitators," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 4(11), pages 177-187, November.
    6. Véronique Favre Bonte & Sébastien Tran, 2015. "The contribution of the Internet to the strategic positioning of Small Businesses in the tourism industry [La contribution d'internet au positionnement stratégique des petites entreprises dans l'in," Post-Print hal-01278933, HAL.
    7. Tobias Schultheiss & Uschi Backes-Gellner, 2024. "Does updating education curricula accelerate technology adoption in the workplace? Evidence from dual vocational education and training curricula in Switzerland," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 191-235, February.
    8. Hassan Faouzi, 2014. "Les NTIC et les stratégies de positionnement des entreprises : le cas des hébergeurs touristiques, Agadir, Maroc," Post-Print hal-02902469, HAL.
    9. Kieu-Trang Pham & Duc-Nghia Vu & Phuc Le Hieu Hong & Chansik Park, 2020. "4D-BIM-Based Workspace Planning for Temporary Safety Facilities in Construction SMEs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-22, May.

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