Information And Communication Technology (ICT) Deployment In Architectural Firms In Nigeria
Abstract
Architectural practice has been in actuality in Nigeria for further than fifty times and the foremost preface of computers by enterprises for operations began in the early 1980s. Information and communication technology( ICT) operation is ineluctable in all fields of endeavours and for professionals in the present period. The study of ICT operation and deployment thus becomes imperative. This study aims at furnishing an understanding of the deployment of ICT in architectural enterprises in Nigeria. It specifically examines organizational and ICT characteristics of the enterprises; the measure of fit between ICT tools stationed and tasks engaged; the effect of training programmes on the vacuity of ICT complete labor force; and the position of acceptance of Computer Supported cooperative Work( CSCW) in architectural enterprises in Nigeria. The Task- Technology Fit model( TTF) and an Extended Technology Acceptance Model( TAM) were employed to test deployment of four design technologies( AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, Revit Architecture and SketchUp) and the acceptance of CSCW. The multistage slice fashion was used to decide the sample drawn from six metropolises Abuja, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Enugu, Lagos and Portharcourt were named grounded on proved substantiation of having the largest number of enterprises in their zones. A aggregate of 118 questionnaires were returned from a aggregate of 159 distributed. This represents a74.21 return rate. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, crosstabulations, Chi- Square tests, exploratory factor analysis, Analysis of Variance( ANOVA) and multiple retrogression analysis. The study revealed advancements in the quality and vacuity of ICT systems in architectural enterprises in Nigeria as from 2001. Internet connectivity and Website power is on the increase in architectural enterprises. Annual development of the architectural enterprises has is appreciatively identified to the quality of installed systems. The study also set up a relationship between power of websites and the date of ICT preface. The integrated TTF/ TAM test showed situations of fit between tasks engaged in architectural enterprises and the design technologies stationed. The model tests explain between41.4-52.1 of the residual variation in the product of detailed system product. The portions of determination and beta portions are significant to prognosticate model fit of deployment. Reasonable proficiency situations of the staff in the deployment of the available software and technologies were verified. likewise enterprises are getting decreasingly involved in outsourcing as a service delivery strategy. The study revealed that many enterprises fund training programmes within their associations. utmost of those that fund training programs commit lower than a million naira to it annually. The study revealed that there’s no significant relationship between the vacuity of CAD/ BIM complete staff and the actuality of training programmes within the enterprises. It was also verified that there was no significant relationship between the vacuity of CAD/ BIM complete staff and the training styles employed by the enterprises. It was set up that there was a significant relationship between the vacuity of CAD/ BIM complete staff and the CAD/ BIM complete staff demanded. The interview responses suggest that the seminaries of armature have done much towards achieving the vacuity of CAD/ BIM complete staff. CSCW has been espoused by only37.3 of the enterprises and the study revealed that perceived ease- of- use, security and the quality of installed systems were predictors of the extended TAM model. In conclusion, the study recommends that combined sweats towards developing network structure especially broadband access can ameliorate the practice of outsourcing and also have impact on CSCW. Quality investment and commitment by technology companies and merchandisers, enterprises, the government and other stakeholders in the area of ICT accessions, network security and the development of stoner-friendly technologies will surely ameliorate relinquishment and deployment of ICT in architectural enterprises in Nigeria.
Chapter One
General Introduction
1.1 preface
This chapter provides an overview of the exploration. It begins by agitating the background of the study and stressed the main issue under disquisition in the problem statement. The coming section addresses the end and objects of the exploration followed by the crucial exploration questions which guided the inquiry. latterly, a summary of the exploration methodology and the compass for the study was described. The chapter ended with highlights of the organisation of the exploration.
Background to exploration
The architectural enterprises have been called out on multitudinous occasions for difficulties relating to the effectiveness, productivity, and quality of the products that they deliver. The major actors in this business, including engineers, have constantly been singled out for responsibility regarding this dilemma. It has come to light in recent times that one of the crucial problems that’s contributing to the poor performance of the armature assiduity is shy communication and the cloverleaf of information and data amongst the design platoon( Sun, & Howard, 2022).
According to Tam( 2022), a significant portion of the product issues endured by architectural enterprises are set up to have a direct and strong connection to the communication and information exchange that occurs between the colorful stakeholders involved in the architectural design.
It’s intriguing to note that the degree of technologies that are available in moment’s business is huge, and the armature assiduity should be apprehensive of the benefits that can be gained by making use of these technologies to ameliorate their business and collaboration results. Among these technological results, information and communication technology, also known as ICT, is constantly seen as an enabler because of its capability to boost productivity and raise the quality of affair( Tam 2022).
It has been extensively reported that the operation of information and communication technology( ICT) in the manufacturing assiduity has proven to be an effective tool that supports the integration of processes for product development, product, accoutrements force, communication, and conservation processes. This is supported by the fact that these structures and communication interfaces have been duly defined. Because of this, the technology, also known as information and dispatches technology( ICT), has been extensively used across a variety of diligence to boost competitiveness and cut costs, and it’s generally seen as a means of gaining a competitive advantage moment( Tenah, 2022).
In a affiliated note, architectural companies, which have been characterised as inimical and information thick( Cox and Townsend, 1998), appear to have the maturity of their issues linked to the quality and complexity of the information that’s handed( Vadhavkar, Pena- Mora, 2022). In discrepancy to the operations that are nonstop, distributed, different, and different in other profitable sectors, architectural businesses are defined by conditioning that are spastic. It should come as no surprise that this may make the objectification of ICT in architectural businesses more grueling than in other diligence. still, in order for the assiduity to continue to be competitive in the digital frugality of moment, significant quantities of invention and process enhancement are needed( Vadhavkar, Pena- Mora, 2022).
In recent times, architectural companies have come to see the use of information and communication technology( ICT) as a pivotal instrument for enhancing data and communication in armature processes and for developing new armature- related profitable prospects. Indeed, this acknowledgment has urged a number of armature organisations each over the world to borrow and invest in this technology; and the results of several recent checks indicate that there’s a trend toward a rising number of enterprises employing ICT in architectural enterprises( Sun, & Howard, 2022).
It should come as no surprise that multitudinous arguments have been presented in support of the necessity of incorporating ICT into architectural design and construction systems. According to Gunasekaran etal.( 2001), when engineers use ICT on architectural systems, they may boost their profit situations, ameliorate their functional effectiveness, and ameliorate the quality of their work. also, they can reduce the quantum of time and expenditure needed for the design. In a analogous tone, Tam( 2022) claimed that main causes that drive demand for ICT operation in architectural enterprises include downcast cost pressures, the time-specific nature of architectural systems, growing specialisation, and the specialized complexity of systems. This trend was also reported in Ozumba et al( 2008), and they suggested that the use of ICT has the implicit to enhance both intra and redundant point communication, including benefits similar as enhanced data and material operation, and in substance enhance overall point operation processes.( Citation demanded)
Again, it isn’t uncommon for the colorful parties involved in an architectural design, similar as the proprietor, the advisers , the mastermind, and the subarchitects, to come in with a set of interrelated and interconnect connections that call for cooperation and collaboration in order to coordinate time, coffers, and communication. This is because these connections are innately interdependent on one another. Because of this, the politic operation of information and
The integration of information and communication technologies( ICT) into design work has surfaced as an absolute necessity in order to realise this ideal in a more timely and comprehensive manner( Tam 2022). The utilisation of applicable information and communication technology( ICT) grounded business systems, communication tools, and other participated storehouse waiters can also help to ameliorate common norms for the information and data changed between architectural enterprises( Tenah, 2022).
Despite this, a number of improvements in information and dispatches technology have opened up fresh doors in the realm of architectural enhancement in the areas of communication, collaboration, and information operation( Stewart, 2007). For illustration, slice- edge uses of information and dispatches technology include modelling and visualisation tools, mobile computing, and internet- grounded data cloverleaf in the form of design webs and electronic document operation systems.
In a great number of other nations, teleconferencing and online shopping, as well as integrated software like enterprise resource planning( ERP), have been enforced with some measure of success( Tenah, 2022).
Given the vital part that armature plays in ultramodern society and the growing attention that ICT is entering in architectural businesses moment, Nigerian architectural enterprises can not be barred from this enormous request.
Problem statement
the traditional armature sector each over the world including that of Nigeria are needed to move towards invention of their products including the product processes enhancement to achieve more effective process with products and product styles. likewise, current issues of competition as well as adding customer mindfulness are creating demand for critical enhancement in productivity and
competitiveness in the armature sector. In effect, this suggest that as armature is getting more complex moment, a more sophisticated approach is necessary to deal with issues of initiating, planning, financing, designing, approving, enforcing and completing a design, an area in which ICT have proved its topmost impact and enormous operation eventuality( Wang, 1994).
Though, Sarshar et al( 2004) have suggested that engineers can employ ICTs as an enabler for integration, collaboration, knowledge operation, procurement, point operation and process enhancement; Mak( 2001) had reported that the use of ICTs in armature enterprises continues to be „ incremental ‟ and that; only many engineers are completely suitable to integrate ICTs with their core business processes. Issues similar as computer ignorance, shy knowledge of ICT among others has been cited as the most constantly reported failings of engineers in numerous countries( Samuelson, 2002). Again the fact that engineers ‟ core business conditioning are substantially performed on armature spots and operations that support factual work on point are hard to find has also been appertained among others.
For this reason, the vast benefits offered by ICT in the architectural enterprises though seems honored, its relinquishment and use as normal part of the armature process is still low; and engineers among the major players, have been frequently been cited as those who use ICT least of all( Peansupap and Walker, 2004).
While this situation could presumably be true for the Nigerian architectural enterprises, specific details regarding the extent of operation and problems facing the use of ICT in the Nigerian architectural enterprises still remain unclear. This study seeks to assess the situation in erecting armature enterprises in Nigeria.
Aim of study.
The aimed of the study is to identify the reasons hindering the use of ICT by mastermind in Nigeria.
objects of study
The specific objects of this study are;
• To assess the ICT structure platforms of mastermind in Nigeria.
• To explore the position ICT operation among mastermind
• To identify and estimate the factors hindering the use of ICT by mastermind in Nigeria
exploration questions
To answer the main exploration problem over, three exploration questions will be addressed
1. What’s the state of ICT structure in Building armature enterprises in Nigeria?
2. To what’s extent is ICT being used by erecting armature enterprises in Nigeria?
3. What significant factors hamper the use of ICT by mastermind in Nigeria?
exploration methodology
The exploration was conducted through check questionnaires. Survey is one of the most cost effective ways to gain information from large pool of people given better resultsmore specific, accurate, briskly and utmost cost effective ways( McQueen and Knussen, 2002; Farag et al, 2009). The companies surveyed were erecting and civil engineering armature enterprises in fiscal class D1K1 and D2K2.
At first, the study commenced with a thorough literature disquisition of both the electronic and hard dupe media. This proved helpful in having a better understanding of recent developments of Information and Communication Technology( ICT) aspects in the architectural enterprises. It further handed sapience into the exploration questions, suppositions and objects within the theoretical frame for the study. The applicable aspects of the literature hunt were reviewed to include areas applicable for the study. latterly, structured questionnaire was developed and conducted among top operation officers and professionals in the mastermind associations who are involved in the armature process and administration. A number of commentary and suggestions from an original airman study were used to amend the questionnaire before final distribution. The data entered will be anatomized using One Sample T- test statistical tools with the help of Statistical Package for Social lores( SPSS) Software.
compass of the study
The exploration focuses on Information and Communications Technology( ICT) and its operations in the Nigerian architectural enterprises. For the purposes of this exploration, the study concentrated on ICT operation in the perspective of armature engineers in the fiscal class D1KI and D2K2 according to the Ministry of Water coffers, workshop and Housing bracket guidelines in Nigeria. This is because similar companies generally take over large volumes of workshop employ good professionals and hence, have the capacity to engage and appreciate technology( ICT) in their operations.
The study areas to be covered are Lagos and Abuja. This is because, the distribution of these mastermind in Nigeria are largely prejudiced towards the megacity centrals with further than 70 of the registered enterprises, particularly the large organisations, tend to operate officially in the Abuja and Lagos.
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