User perception of new ICT in risk management : A Swedish Case study in construction

Sammanfattning: The construction industry today is entirely dependent on the work of projects and these projects are associated with a numerous amount of risks. In order to manage and control these risks, research has shown that efficient strategies are needed, thus, to be able minimize different deviations throughout the entire project life cycle. Functioning risk management is essential for successful construction projects. Research has also shown that the importance of digitalization in the construction industry is increasing rapidly and a result of this technology advancement is an increase in the amount of information that needs to be stored, shared and communicated across the project. In addition, information management is a significant factor in how quality in risk management is maintained, and it is vital to adopt information and communication technologies (ICT) to support this. For ICTs to be accepted, adopted and to reach their full potential it is of essence to understand how users perceive working in a digital environment and to share information and communicate digitally. Thereby, this study aims to study how users perceive a new ICT-tool for digital information sharing and communication, as well as the potential of the ICT-tool to influence the work of risk management within the project. To be able to approach the research questions, elicit data was gathered through a qualitative, empirical case study including interviews, observations and a questionnaire. The case study is delimited to a construction project, Building 61, at Danderyds Hospital and their work of risk-management. The case study analyzes how users perceive the increase of use of digital information sharing and communication of risks followed by the recently implemented ICT-tool, Jira Software. Findings shows that the user perception of communication and sharing information through the ICT-tool is perceived as positive and contributes to the improvement of the management of risks. But even though the amount of information now can be transferred and shared through one platform, and increasing the accessibility, it is found that sharing information and communicating digitally does not eliminate the need for interactive communication in the work of risks. Additionally, despite provided training, there is still need for further integration into existing workprocesses in order to utilize the amount of information generated on to the ICT-tool. Conclusively, the use of the new ICT-tool has been perceived as very useful, but it has also given rise to new challenges, mainly concerned the ability to find information in the tool, which needs to be overcome in order for the ICT to reach its full potential and to improve the work with risk management.