Evaluating the Usability of the Leanbuild Software Application After the Design Stage

Abstract

Industries are experiencing a new paradigm shift driven by advanced digitalization, automation, smart technologies, and the internet of things. Lean construction (LC) advocates have been promoting the adoption of existing and emerging technologies through Lean construction 4.0 (LC 4.0). This paper presents an opportunity for the adoption of smart digital technologies in the construction industry in the form of "LeanBuild project management software".This paper aims to evaluate the usability of the LeanBuild software after the design stage of development. This paper evaluated the ease of use and effectiveness, and assessed the comprehensiveness of the software design flow. Focus groups, questionnaire survey and interviews were conducted with industry practitioners, academics, and software/IT professionals.The results suggest that the incorporation of data privacy and security, modules for designing and tracking modular and off-site construction, tools for calculating carbon footprints and sustainability, and artificial intelligence, will improve its usability and provide more value to end-users. The paper concludes that while the LeanBuild software has some limitations in terms of scope and functions, it is generally easy to use and effective for its intended users. The study provides insights for software developers to design more user-friendly project management software.