Technological change in the AEC industry: a social architecture factor model of individuals´ resistance

Ever increasing technological capabilities exist in the architecture/engineering/construction (AEC) industry. Email, project specific websites, computer aided drafting (CAD), and animations are but a few technologies adopted within the industry. The change methods used in the adoptions suggest a focus on technology, yet the technology itself is seen as a primary barrier to successful implementation. In general, the AEC industry is extremely slow to embrace available technology. The hesitation in adoption originates because technology is the driver of change, rather than an enabler of change. Therefore, technology focused change models are inappropriate to ensure successful technology implementation in the AEC industry. The importance of cultural issues for technological implementation is well documented, yet predominantly unresearched within the building and construction industry. Technological changes will not be successful until researchers develop a fundamental understanding of how people change. Therefore, studying individuals and their change processes is essential to successful implementation of technology change. This research uses a people centered paradigm for developing technology implementation models, placing technology in a change enabling position rather than being a driver of change. Change management theories present processes and guidelines for changing organizations and tasks, with limited emphasis on individuals involved in change. However, resistance of people is the primary reason for failure of organizational change. This research investigates individuals´ resistance to change brought about by new technology implementation in the AEC industry. Resistance to change is a combination of three factors: cause of resistance, level of resistance, and manifestation of resistance. Through relevant theories, the cause, level, and manifestation of resistance in individuals are correlated to specific measures of behavioral characteristics that are indicative of resistance to change. This paper discusses the development of a model of individual resistance to investigate the importance of behavioral characteristic measures indicative of resistance to change.