<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The building, construction, and real estate industry is undergoing a major transition with traditional ways of working being replaced by novel three-dimensional modeling technologies. Such transitions take place incrementally as more and more actors see the advantages. While new systems (e.g., building information modeling) have become increasingly diffused in the industry, many practices have been left intact. On-site inspections using the old method of filling out forms for the registration of errors and omissions are eventually replaced by defect management systems, where an app on a mobile device is used to take a photo, note position, and write notes, which are directly sent to the responsible people involved. A case study was conducted in a large residential project under completion by a contractor. Project managers and skilled workers were introduced to a specific app and given the opportunity to try it out. Data were subsequently collected based on a series of qualitative interviews conducted with the on-site personnel. This was analyzed according to the technology acceptance model, a theory of user acceptance of new information technologies. Our contribution is that we compare the technology acceptance of new and existing defect management methods and unearth their relative advantages, while registering how users’ perceptions of new technology affect their intention to use as well as their actual continued use of the technology. This work is important for managers planning development of their on-site management tools, enabling them to run their projects more efficiently.</p></abstract>

The building, construction, and real estate industry is undergoing a major transition with traditional ways of working being replaced by novel three-dimensional modeling technologies. Such transitions take place incrementally as more and more actors see the advantages. While new systems (e.g., building information modeling) have become increasingly diffused in the industry, many practices have been left intact. On-site inspections using the old method of filling out forms for the registration of errors and omissions are eventually replaced by defect management systems, where an app on a mobile device is used to take a photo, note position, and write notes, which are directly sent to the responsible people involved. A case study was conducted in a large residential project under completion by a contractor. Project managers and skilled workers were introduced to a specific app and given the opportunity to try it out. Data were subsequently collected based on a series of qualitative interviews conducted with the on-site personnel. This was analyzed according to the technology acceptance model, a theory of user acceptance of new information technologies. Our contribution is that we compare the technology acceptance of new and existing defect management methods and unearth their relative advantages, while registering how users’ perceptions of new technology affect their intention to use as well as their actual continued use of the technology. This work is important for managers planning development of their on-site management tools, enabling them to run their projects more efficiently.

On-site inspections: the shift from forms to digital capture

Organization, Technology and Management in Construction: an International Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"On-site inspections: the shift from forms to digital capture"}

The building, construction, and real estate industry is undergoing a major transition with traditional ways of working being replaced by novel...

Affiliation	Interviewee	Interview technique and duration
Contractor 1 (case project)	Project engineer1	Face to face, 45 min
Contractor 1 (case project)	Site manager 1	Face to face, 45 min
Contractor 1 (case project)	Project manager 1	E-mail
Contractor 1 (case project)	Carpenter 1 and plumber 1	Group interview 40 min
Contractor 2	Site manager 2	Phone interview, 40 min
Contractor 3	Site manager 3	Skype/telephone, 40 min
Contractor 3	Trainee 3	Skype/webcam, 40 min
Contractor 4	Project manager 4	E-mail

Affiliation	Interviewee	Interview technique and duration
Contractor 1 (case project)	Project engineer 1	E-mail, phone interview
Contractor 2	Business developer 2	E-mail, phone interview
Contractor 3	Site manager 3	E-mail
Contractor 4	Chief operating officer 4	E-mail

Perceived usefulness – TAM	Perceived usefulness – results
Works more quickly	Does the job quicker
Job performance	Increases productivity and efficiency
Increases productivity and efficiency	Improves flow of communication
Makes job easier	Makes job easier
Perceived ease of use – TAM	Perceived ease of use – results
Easy to learn, clear, and understandable	Easy to learn
Easy to become skillful	Impact of experience/age difference
Easy to use	Easy to use
Behavioral intention to use – TAM	Behavioral intention to use – results
Results from perceived usefulness and ease of use	Results from perceived usefulness and ease of use
Actual system use – TAM	Actual system use – results
Results from intention to use	Use of a comparable system resulted from intention to use

On-site inspections: the shift from forms to digital capture

Article Category: Research Paper

Published Online: Mar 25, 2020

Page range: 2064 - 2071

Received: Dec 16, 2019

Accepted: Feb 10, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/otmcj-2020-0003

Keywords
on-site inspection, defect management systems, technology acceptance model

© 2020 Christian Nordahl Rolfsen et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1

Interviews conducted

Follow-up interviews conducted

Summary of results (right column) in relation to TAM items (Davis 1989) (left column)

On-site inspections: the shift from forms to digital capture

Article Category: Research Paper

Published Online: Mar 25, 2020

Page range: 2064 - 2071

Received: Dec 16, 2019

Accepted: Feb 10, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/otmcj-2020-0003

Keywordson-site inspection, defect management systems, technology acceptance model

© 2020 Christian Nordahl Rolfsen et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1

Interviews conducted

Follow-up interviews conducted

Summary of results (right column) in relation to TAM items (Davis 1989) (left column)

Keywords
on-site inspection, defect management systems, technology acceptance model