Investigations on the Perceptions of Construction Professionals Regarding Technology Adoption and Training Practices: A Pilot Study
Conference
Wang, X, Short, K, Zhao, T et al. (2026). Investigations on the Perceptions of Construction Professionals Regarding Technology Adoption and Training Practices: A Pilot Study
. 4 345-354. 10.1061/9780784486993.035
Wang, X, Short, K, Zhao, T et al. (2026). Investigations on the Perceptions of Construction Professionals Regarding Technology Adoption and Training Practices: A Pilot Study
. 4 345-354. 10.1061/9780784486993.035
The US construction industry is experiencing labor shortages in the building trades. The recruitment process, training, and retention efforts require different practices than those used in the past. Technological innovations are a potential tool for recruiting and retaining younger workers. However, technology adoption has been relatively slow in the construction industry compared to others. Challenges include difficulty attracting technology-savvy people, resistance to learning new technologies, and ineffective training practices. The researchers conducted a pilot study to investigate the current status associated with technology adoption and training in practice. Through nationwide surveys, the authors synthesized current practices in technology use and training and identified influential human factors by examining management professionals' perceptions of technology adoption. The findings suggest that end-users' performance expectancy and training strategies strongly influence technology adoption. The primary benefits realized are improved communication among the skilled trades and reduced construction delays. The primary contribution of this study is a synthesis of existing practices regarding technology adoption and a foundation for developing accessible, leading-edge, and engaging training programs that could be applied to revolutionize the current state of worker learning and eventually eliminate resistance to the technology-pervasive job site of the future.
