PurposeThis research paper aims to analyze the critical barriers to implementing digitalization in the Indian construction industry as Indian construction companies are lagging in the implementation of digital technologies in the work environment.Design/methodology/approachIn this research paper, a qualitative research approach is adopted, and multiple detailed interviews are conducted with industry and academic experts. Further, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques are used to finalize the prioritization among various alternatives. The fuzzy-decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (Fuzzy-DEMATEL) and interpretive structural modeling (ISM) techniques are employed to find the exact relationship among the identified alternatives.FindingsThis study identifies 14 critical barriers from an extensive literature review and multiple interviews with industry professionals, and further driving and critical barriers are identified.Research limitations/implicationsIn this research paper, an exploratory study with a limited number of respondents from a large Indian construction company is carried out. Further, a detailed longitudinal analysis can be done to assess the subjectivity of the participants with more advanced statistical tools. However, this research discusses several points pertaining to the implementation of digitalization in the construction industry. The research further identifies the critical barriers to digitalization in the Indian construction industry.Practical implicationsThe finding of the study has two-pronged implications. First, it provides a road-map to the construction industry by highlighting the engagement of top management as the key focus area for successful digitalization. Second, the finding also shows similarity of the digitalization process to the adoption of process improvement techniques like lean and total quality management (TQM), wherein the top management plays a crucial role in ushering in the implementation of a disruptive change.Originality/valueThe research is unique in two ways. First, this is one of the very few attempts to understand digitalization in the Indian context. Second, the research also demonstrates that the combination of fuzzy DEMATEL and ISM techniques can be successfully employed in the emerging field of construction digitalization research.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a practical framework to measure the safety performance of workers in the Indian construction industry. The key safety performance indicators are identified and ordered on the premise that the higher order assignment of an indicator implies a strong indication of an effective safety performance.Design/methodology/approachVarious indicators of safety performance in the construction industry were identified from extant literature review combined with author's personal viewpoint. The identified variables were inquired for appropriateness for the Indian construction scenario by consultation with experts. Fuzzy Technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) technique was considered for the ranking of the indicators from most to least important.FindingsThe most important highlight of the study was the importance of the role of management by participating in informing workers about the safety rules and compliance toward safety measures. Proper and timely safety training to the workers and equipping them with sophisticated safety equipment for daily activities is perceived to be highly important in ensuring a safe and healthy workplace environment. Controlling the absenteeism rate reduces the burden of extra work on the employees, thereby, encouraging safe work-related behavior.Originality/valueSenior management should make safety induction programs compulsory at the time of joining of the employees. The guidelines for safety practices, rules and information about the safety equipment should be properly documented and arranged in safety manuals. Periodical drills involving visual demonstration of the safety practices should be followed to ensure safety at workplace.

PurposeMany organizations failed to generate profits after investing considerable money and time in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. This study, therefore, sought to identify the challenges encountered by pharmaceutical firms during the post-implementation of ERP systems.Design/methodology/approachA case-based study followed by general survey-based research was carried out in pharmaceutical firms to determine the critical post-implementation challenges of ERP systems. DANP (DEMATEL-based ANP) and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test were used to find the causal/critical challenges and rank them.FindingsAfter analyzing a pharmaceutical case company and conducting a general survey among pharmaceutical companies, statistical analysis was performed to identify the most significant challenges, namely, “Inefficient troubleshooting mechanism”, “Lack of training during post-implementation stage” and “Difficulty in identifying invalid data when entered into the ERP system”. Furthermore, organization-wide challenges are considered to be the most important.Practical implicationsThe paper identifies the challenges faced during the post-implementation phase of ERP systems. This work brings out the issues with ERP systems' performance after their implementation, which is related to the quality of the ERP systems. This work will support the risk identification and mitigation during ERP implementation to eradicate the problems after its implementation. This work may trigger the ERP system developers to improve its features and performance for better manufacturing and supply chain management system in pharmaceutical firms.Originality/valueThis study is uniquely conducted in pharmaceutical firms to study the benefits and challenges of adopted ERP systems. A pilot case study served as the foundation for the generalizability of other pharmaceutical firms' findings through a non-parametric test.

PurposeThe purpose of this research article is to investigate the critical risk factors associated with the digitalization impact on the Indian construction industry, as these firm plans to implement digitalization in order to improve their construction management processes.Design/methodology/approachIn this research article, risk factors and dimensions are taken from diverse industries and validated in the construction domain by industry and academic experts. Further, multi-criteria decision-making techniques are employed to assess the Indian construction sector scenario quantitatively. The interrelationship and weightage of risk factors and dimensions are determined by the Fuzzy Decision-making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory Analytic Network Process (DANP) method. However, the method Grey Technique for the Order of Prioritization by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is used to determine the ranking of each risk factor.FindingsThis study finds 14 critical risk factors along with four risk dimensions. Operational and financial dimensions are significant risk dimensions. Whereas the threat of high outlay and low yield is a significant risk factor in construction. Besides that, the interrelationship among risk factors, the weightage of each factor and the ranking of critical risk factors are also identified.Research limitations/implicationsThis research article uses Fuzzy DANP and Grey TOPSIS techniques as exploratory research methods with a limited group of construction professionals from a leading Indian construction firm. Furthermore, comprehensive confirmatory research can also be performed with a large group of construction experts using advanced analytical techniques to validate the ranking of critical risk factors.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study provide insight into the knowledge of construction firms by emphasizing significant risk factors related to digitalization in construction operations. Another finding of this study shows that the risks associated with digitalization in construction are similar to those in manufacturing, where high outlay and low yield hold a significant role in the transformation process.Originality/valueThe research is unique since there have only been limited studies in the Indian construction scenario to analyze the significant risks associated with digitalization. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that the combination of Fuzzy DANP and Grey TOPSIS techniques may be used successfully to prioritize risks in construction digitalization, which is still in its early phases.

PurposeIndian construction firms are falling behind in the use of digital technology in the workplace, and this study aims to give a framework and assess the role of enablers in the implementation and continuing digitalization of the Indian construction sector.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory qualitative research technique is used in this article, and multiple detailed interviews and surveys are done with professionals from the industry and academia. To conclude the significance and relevance of the different constructs and indicators, the partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach is used.FindingsBarriers are essential enablers for effective implementation, while success factors are important drivers for the successful continuance of digitalization in the construction sector. However, stakeholders' perceived benefit has a substantial role in both implementation and continuance.Research limitations/implicationsIn this research paper, the scope of this investigation for a generalized exploratory study is restricted to construction firms within India. Further, a rigorous longitudinal study may also be performed to examine the subjectivity of the responses in order to ensure digital continuation. This study identifies limited manifest indicators. Additional indications, however, may be included based on the other company's resources, structure and geographic location.Practical implicationsThe study's findings have two implications. In the beginning, it gives a direction to the construction sector by highlighting the framework in which implementation and continuance both should have to be executed, and this is the critical area for the successful continuance of digitalization in construction. Second, the research shows that the digitalization process is similar to the adoption of innovation, in which the deployment and persistent use of the new technology are important for facilitating the transformation.Originality/valueIn two respects, the study is distinctive. To begin, this is one of the limited efforts to comprehend digitalization from the Indian perspective. Second, the study reveals that the PLS-SEM approach can be effectively used in the developing subject of the construction digitalization concept.