Cultural orientations and strategic capability for the adoption of building information modeling in construction firms

Abstract

Abstract Digitalization is redefining products and business models worldwide. This places a demand for transformation in a firm's organizational culture and strategy. This study thus assesses the cultural orientations and strategic capability required for the adoption of building information modeling (BIM) in construction firms as a platform for the enhancement of digital transformation. It examines the prevalence of the orientations and capability, evaluates the relationship among cultural orientations, strategic capability, and BIM adoption as well as predicts a model of BIM adoption from culture and strategy. Data were collected through questionnaires administered to top management staff in construction firms in Lagos State. Factor Analysis, Correlation, and Regression were the adopted statistical tools. The results revealed production, task accomplishment, innovative construction process, workforce, knowledge management, environmental, founder's belief as well as conflict resolution as the prevalent cultural orientations. The availability of resources to communicate, interact, and collaborate digitally as well as leadership capability to organize and coordinate digitally are the top two strategic capabilities. Despite the respondents' level of agreement on the constructs; culture and strategic capability contribute 18% of the BIM model. The study concludes that the more the firms' leadership interacts with digitally oriented clients, embeds digitalization in a mission statement, and adopts innovative construction processes, the better the BIM adoption. It is recommended that the firms' leadership develop or re‐configure an innovative culture and re‐strategize construction activities digitally by adopting BIM which can be turned into a dynamic capability for firm improvement and competitiveness.