David vs. Goliath - En institutionel analyse af den digitale kløft i byggebranchen og dens indflydelse på anvendelsen af digitalisering til at understøtte den bæredygtige udvikling - PhDData

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David vs. Goliath – En institutionel analyse af den digitale kløft i byggebranchen og dens indflydelse pÃ¥ anvendelsen af digitalisering til at understøtte den bæredygtige udvikling

The thesis was published by Kirkaune, Marius Alexander Kjærsgaard, in January 2023, Aalborg University.

Abstract:

This thesis is a qualitative analysis regarding the existence ofa digital divide between the industry´s SMEs and large enterprisesand how this impacts their opportunity to utilize digitalizationto support sustainable development. The thesis addressesthe following problem statement: Does the structuralconditions in the construction industry create a digital dividebetween Danish architectural enterprises and if so, what significancedoes this have for the enterprises ability to utilizedigitalization to support sustainable development?The methodological approach is a qualitative case-studybased on four case-organizations. The empirical foundation isbased upon a total of six interviews. One with a representativefrom each of the four case-organizations, one representativefrom Danish Architect Enterprises and one from HDLab, a consultancy firm specialized in digitalization in theconstruction industry. Furthermore, the projects empiricalfoundation is supplemented with relevant research literatureand policy documents from the Danish government and theEU. The analytical approach is based upon New InstitutionalTheory including concepts such as: Institutions, institutionalchange, institutional logics, institutional complexity, pluralism,organizational responses, isomorphism, and organizationaldecoupling. Initially an outlook is placed on the historicalevolution of the construction industry, and how this hasformed the industry´s contemporary structural conditions.Thereafter a contemporary outlook is placed on how thesestructural conditions create room for the existence of a digitaldivide between the industry´s SMEs and large enterprises.Finally, an outlook is placed on how the digital divide manifestsitself among the case-organizations.The study’s key findings are that the industry’s structuralconditions favor the larger actors over the smaller ones. Onbehalf thereof a digital divide does exist between theindustry’s actors. However, the distinction of where thedigital divide manifests itself is between companies withrespectively under or over 50-70 employees. Enterprisesbelow this threshold have an internalized focus directed attheir own organizations. Enterprises over this thresholdleverage their dominant position by exerting a broaderinfluence in the industry, by influencing the industry’sregulation and standardization. Furthermore, the largerenterprises develop their own tools to support their internalwork with regards to sustainability, whereas the smallerenterprises await others to develop the tools they are in needoff.



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