DEPLOYMENT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN ARCHITECTURAL COMPANIES IN NIGERIA

DEPLOYMENT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN ARCHITECTURAL COMPANIES IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Architectural practice has been in existence in Nigeria for more than fifty years and the earliest introduction of computers by firms for operations began in the early 1980s. Information and communication technology (ICT) usage is inevitable in all fields of endeavours and for professionals in the present era. The study of ICT usage and deployment therefore becomes imperative. This study aims at providing an understanding of the deployment of ICT in architectural firms in Nigeria. It specifically examines organizational and ICT characteristics of the firms; the measure of fit between ICT tools deployed and tasks engaged; the effect of training programmes on the availability of ICT proficient personnel; and the level of acceptance of Computer Supported Collaborative Work (CSCW) in architectural firms in Nigeria. The Task-Technology Fit model (TTF) and an Extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) were employed to test deployment of four design technologies (AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, Revit Architecture and SketchUp) and the acceptance of CSCW. The multistage sampling technique was used to derive the sample drawn from six cities: Abuja, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Enugu, Lagos and Portharcourt were selected based on documented evidence of having the largest number of firms in their zones. A total of 118 questionnaires were returned from a total of 159 distributed. This represents a 74.21% return rate. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, crosstabulations, Chi- Square tests, exploratory factor analysis, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and multiple regression analysis. The study revealed improvements in the quality and availability of ICT systems in architectural firms in Nigeria as from 2001. Internet connectivity and Website ownership is on the increase in architectural firms. Annual turnover of the architectural firms has is positively correlated to the quality of installed systems. The study also found a relationship between ownership of websites and the date of ICT introduction. The integrated TTF/TAM test showed levels of fit between tasks engaged in architectural firms and the design technologies deployed. The model tests explain between 41.4% - 52.1% of the residual variation in the production of detailed system product. The coefficients of determination and beta coefficients are significant to predict model fit of deployment. Reasonable proficiency levels of the staff in the deployment of the available software and technologies were confirmed. Furthermore firms are getting increasingly involved in outsourcing as a service delivery strategy. The study revealed that few firms fund training programmes within their organizations. Most of those that fund training programs commit lower than a million naira to it annually. The study revealed that there is no significant relationship between the availability of CAD/BIM proficient staff and the existence of training programmes within the firms. It was also confirmed that there was no significant relationship between the availability of CAD/BIM proficient staff and the training methods employed by the firms. It was found that there was a significant relationship between the availability of CAD/BIM proficient staff and the CAD/BIM proficient staff needed. The interview responses suggest that the schools of architecture have done much towards achieving the availability of CAD/BIM proficient staff. CSCW has been adopted by only 37.3% of the firms and the study revealed that perceived ease-of-use, security and the quality of installed systems were predictors of the extended TAM model. In conclusion, the study recommends that concerted efforts towards developing network infrastructure especially broadband access can improve the practice of outsourcing and also have impact on CSCW. Quality investment and commitment by technology companies and vendors, firms, the government and other stakeholders in the area of ICT acquisitions, network security and the development of user-friendly technologies will surely improve adoption and deployment of ICT in architectural firms in Nigeria.

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