Unravelling the Role of Digital Partnering in Successful Construction Digitalisation – An Empirical Investigation

This study explores the concept of digital partnering among construction organisations, focusing on the essential factors that contribute to successful partnerships and their impact on achieving digital transformation. To gather quantitative data, a survey was conducted with construction professionals engaged in projects throughout South Africa. The data analysis employed a comprehensive six-step methodology, including mean item scoring, Kruskal- Wallis H-Test, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and multiple linear regression (MLR). The findings from the EFA indicated that the effectiveness of digital partnering hinges on three critical elements: a supportive partnering environment, trust and mutual understanding, and management support. The MLR analysis further validated these factors as crucial for attaining digitally transformed construction organisations. Given the competitive and often adversarial nature of the construction industry in developing countries like South Africa, the study recommends that organisations pursue collaborative partnerships both within and outside the industry to facilitate digital transformation. This can be achieved by fostering an environment that nurtures trust, understanding, and strong management support for developing digital capabilities through collaboration. The study offers empirical insights into the key factors necessary for successful digital partnering, an area that has been largely overlooked in discussions surrounding construction digitalisation.