26 International Journal of Information Technology Project Management, 6(3), 26-40, July-September 2015

The Impact of Information

Technology (IT) Adoption on the
Quality of Construction Projects:
The Case of Jordan
Ghaleb J. Sweis, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, The University of Jordan, Amman,
Jordan
Rateb J. Sweis, Faculty of Business, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Muhannad A. Al-Shboul, Faculty of Educational Sciences, The University of Jordan, Amman,
Jordan
Ghadeer A. Al-Dweik, Faculty of Nursing, Applied Science University, Amman, Jordan

ABSTRACT
Despite the advances and the developments of technology, research investigating the impact of Information
Technology adoption on the quality of construction projects has been limited. Therefore, the purpose of this
study is to examine the impact of Information Technology adoption on the quality of Jordanian construction
projects. Measures and analysis procedures were survey based. Ninety questionnaires were distributed among
different construction companies to study the impact of (IT) adoption on the quality of the project during the
four phases of construction. Descriptive statistics were obtained and regression test was applied. Results indi-
cate that more investment and encouragement of the use of (IT) in the construction sector essentially increase
the quality of the project in the construction throughout its four phases (Planning, Design, Construction and
Finishing). The main limitation of this study is that it is conducted with a convenience sample. The academic
and managerial implications of the findings are discussed and further research directions are offered.

Keywords: Construction Sector, IT Adoption, Jordan, Quality

INTRODUCTION 2000). Information Technology (IT) means

Information Technology (IT) is defined as “the
use of electronic machines and programs for the
processing, storage, transfer and presentation of
information” (Bjork, 1999 as cited in Rivard,
utilizing new technologies such as computers,
software, networks, telephones, fax machines,
virtual reality, expert systems and the internet
sources through performing the work activities
(Rivard, 2000). Peslak (2005) states that (IT) has

DOI: 10.4018/IJITPM.2015070102

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International Journal of Information Technology Project Management, 6(3), 26-40, July-September 2015 27
played an important role in the business world;
it allows for comprehensive management of in-
formation and facilitates the exchange between
consumers and providers. In addition, the broad
use of (IT) will improve quality, prevent errors,
reduce costs, increase administrative efficien-
cies, decrease paperwork, and expand access to
information (Langley & Beasley, 2007).
Construction sector is an important indica-
tor of the development as it creates investment
opportunities across various related sectors
(Rivard, 2000). The introduction of (IT) has
improved the productivity of design and project
management. In addition, (IT) has now become
vital to the construction business (El-Mashaleh,
2007). Good communication between project
parties is one of the most important factors
that make the project succeed or fail. Misin-
formation causes much negative consequences
during construction that may lead to conflicts,
disputes and claims between the owner and
the contractor (Cheung, Yiu, & Yeung, 2006).
Information Technology has great potential
for the information process component of the
construction industry. The recent technologies
will undoubtedly have a profound impact on
how organizations operate on a daily basis.
In the construction industry, the owner’s
objective is to obtain a high quality facility
through good use of planning and good design.
For construction projects, quality means mak-
ing sure that things are done according to the
plans, specifications, and permit requirements
(Satterfield, 2005). The American Society of
Civil Engineers defines quality as “the totality
of features attributes, and characteristics of a
facility”. It is usually referenced to and measured
by the degree of conformance to predetermined
standard of performance.
Quality in the constructed project is
obtained by the conscientious application of
thoroughly planned quality-assurance program
implemented through a quality control proce-
dure during the planning, design, construction
and finishing phases (Al-Musaid, 1990). There
is evidence that Information Technology can
improve quality, safety and reduce costs but
employees need more information about how
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to implement these technologies to realize its
potential.
Jordan is considered one of the most stable
countries in the Middle East; the construction
sector is one of the most active sectors. It has
been expanding at a faster pace than any other
sector in the Jordanian economy (Yager, 2004).
The construction sector in Jordan has experi-
enced growth during the boom that occurred in
the last few years. The core economic activi-
ties of the country of Jordan revolve around
real estate and tourism. The real estate and
construction sector has been one of the most
active sectors of the Jordanian economy lately.
Construction sector accounted for 4.6% of the
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on average over
the period 2002 – 2009.The sector has achieved
an average growth rate of 13.3% over the same
period. Residential construction accounts for the
bulk of Jordanian construction accounting for
an average of 87% of all construction permits
during the period 2005 – 2009 (Attar & Sweis,
2010). The government of Jordan has also
been making significant reforms over the past
few years. Such reforms have been positively
impacting the Jordanian economy (El-Quqa,
Hasan, Gouda, Juma, & Al-Akkad, 2008). Infor-
mation Technology has the potential to improve
outcomes. It plays an important role in facilitat-
ing the projects and the construction activities
where many companies have implemented and
are currently using (IT). However, evaluation
of (IT) adoption from the user viewpoint has
received little attention. Therefore, the objec-
tive of this study is to investigate the impact of
(IT) adoption on the quality of projects in the
Jordanian construction sector.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Information Technology Adoption
in Construction System
The construction system has recently used latest
technologies to enhance performance, increase
productivity and improve safety (Cakmak &
Tas, 2012). (IT) is driving changes across many
business sectors at a rapid pace; it plays a vital
28 International Journal of Information Technology Project Management, 6(3), 26-40, July-September 2015
role in the sustained growth of a business. Tas
& Irlayici (2007) conducted a survey about the
current and planned use of (IT) and its impact
on the construction industry in Turkey. The
study indicated that the current level of usage
and the future expectations for building product
information system have become widespread
in Turkey. The recommendation of a study un-
dertaken by Hua (2005) indicates that business
strategy must support investments in informa-
tion systems. Similarly, Sargent, Hyland, &
Sawang (2012) reinforced the need to support
new technologies from both managerial and
technical perspectives.
Oladapo (2007) investigated the state of
Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) in the Nigerian construction industry;
identified its impact on the industry and the
constraints to its adoption. In conclusion, the
level of (IT) usage for a developing country
such as Nigeria is quite high compared with
similar studies. Scheer, Leusin de Amorim,
Santos, Ferreira, and Caron (2007) published
a paper to foster greater understanding of (IT)
and its application in the Brazilian construction
industry. The Importance of improvements of
international investors’ participation in the
Brazilian construction market was noticed
and would consequently lead to more credit
availability. Also one of the most important
steps to be undertaken was academic research
and professional educational efforts that would
continually increase (IT) use in undergraduate
civil engineering courses.
The (IT) Barometer project has been used
in some Nordic countries since 1997 with the
aim “to create a method and perform a survey
for measuring the use of (IT) in the construction
industry” (Samuelson, 2002). As a long term
strategy, the survey should be repeatable and
comparable over time; hence, a standard format
for the survey questionnaire is developed to
encompass wide-ranging questions on the extent
of (IT) usage by architecture, engineering, and
construction (AEC) companies. Samuelson
(2008) developed a survey in Sweden and
Finland over a period of nine years on (IT) in
the construction sector and described the most
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significant results. The goal was to collect
information on the experience of companies
with regard to the use of (IT) and to compare
the data with the previous research developed
by Samuelson and describe the direction that
companies are following in the use of (IT). The
methodology is quantitative and the target popu-
lation covered a large number of people. Five
broad categories were considered: architects,
technical consultants, contractors, property
owners and the materials industry. To collect
data, the researcher used a questionnaire sent to
companies via e-mail. The author had to make
adjustments to the questionnaire to maintain
objectivity of the questions while making them
easy to answer. As a conclusion of Samuelson’s
study, it appears that the handling and use of
CAD is fully integrated into the business envi-
ronment and a software-based CAD increased
significantly between the architects and techni-
cal consultants. The research also concluded that
the use of project webs and electronic trade in
the construction industry is well known in the
construction environment, but their use is still
low. Investments in (IT) are concentrated on
well-tried techniques that support companies
in the business and mobile solutions are at the
top of the list.
Information Technology Adoption
in Construction Projects in Jordan
Sweis, Sweis, Attar, and Abu Hammad (2011)
indicated that in recent years, Jordan has em-
barked upon an ambitious plan to make full
use of the information technology capabilities
(El-Mashaleh, 2007). The study conducted by
El-Mashaleh (2007) aimed at benchmarking the
current (IT) usage, availability, and perceived
impact in the construction, architecture and
engineering, and consulting industry in Jordan.
The paper’s findings signify that (IT) has a
positive impact on the productivity of business
activities. And according to the author, such
benchmarking is of prime importance to both
construction education and practice to under-
stand current trends, forecast future directions,
and conduct international comparison.
International Journal of Information Technology Project Management, 6(3), 26-40, July-September 2015 29
Jordan can gain benefits from applying pe-
riodic comprehensive (IT) impact assessments,
as the outcomes will help policy makers better
design, develop, implement and monitor their
policies and strategies. According to Al Faouri
(2011) study outcome, the (IT) sector has a
positive impact on the Real Estate Sector and
its related activities in terms of productivity,
labor productivity, value added, employment
and taxation.
Information Technology
Challenges
The quality of the projects in the Jordanian con-
struction sector faces major challenges, due to
the massive development that is occurring in the
country and in the Information Technology field.
The construction sector essentially demands the
presence of an effective technological system
that enables workers to perform effectively.
This implementation of technology faces many
difficulties and barriers (Sidawi, 2012).
Michaloski & Costa (2010) conducted a
study titled; a survey of (IT) use by Brazilian
Small and Medium sized Enterprises in con-
struction (SMEs). The study concluded that
SMEs are unaware of measurement criteria
and indicators of IT use. Creating networks to
integrate organizations, the goal of which is to
create local networks of SMEs in the construc-
tion industry should also be encouraged. Thus,
by being part of the network, SMEs will stop
acting as small individualized businesses and
will start to act as integrated systems of SMEs.
Thus, SMEs can overcome problems such as the
lack of knowledge about artificial intelligence,
expert knowledge, generating and disseminating
knowledge and innovation.
Sargent et al. (2012) conducted a study
to understand the factors that can influence
individuals’ intention to utilize technology. The
results show that resistance to change or fear of
change plays a negative role in innovation adop-
tion. Chien and Barthorpe (2010) conducted a
research study into small and medium-sized
construction companies, the headquarters of
which were in Taiwan and discussed the chal-
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lenges the sector faces with the use of (IT).
The results of the research demonstrate that the
organizational structure of SMEs has techno-
logical aspects that can bring the use of (IT) to
maturity, although there are still many factors
which inhibit the adoption of (IT). In another
study, El-Mashaleh (2007) found that the main
obstacles for (IT) use were high investment
costs and staff responsiveness to (IT) adoption.
Said, Ayub, AbdRazaki, and Kooi (2007)
studied the factors affecting quality manage-
ment systems in the Malaysian construction
industry and concluded that the majority of
the respondents suggested the main advantages
of implementation of Quality Management
Systems (QMS) were: “Enhanced Image and
Reputation of Organization” followed by “Per-
formance Improvement and Increased Customer
Satisfaction”. The result of the analysis also
showed that the main problems encountered
by organizations with the implementation of
QMS in Malaysia Construction Industry were
“Lack of Awareness of the Benefits of QMS”,
followed by “Lack of QMS exposure among
workers”. Takim, Akintoye, and Kelly’s (2004)
study concluded that although the use of IT
in the company is important for its business
success, there is no formal methodology for
feasibility analysis, risk assessment or applica-
tions’ evaluation.
Ghobakhloo et al (2012) found that most
challenges faced by (IT) adoption are due to
one or more of the following reasons: inap-
propriate connection between adopted (IT) and
enterprise strategies, inadequate realization of
organizational issues and lack of manager and
employee involvement in different stages of
(IT) adoption.
In conclusion, much of the literature indi-
cates that the main challenges to (IT) innovations
were the costs of new systems, lack of awareness
and capability of learning (IT) system among
employees, lack of formal methodology used
for performing analysis, risk assessment and
evaluating applications.
30 International Journal of Information Technology Project Management, 6(3), 26-40, July-September 2015
The Impact of (IT) Adoption
on the Quality of Projects in
the Construction Sector
Developing countries need to exploit current
technological resources in order to improve
the processes of their building industry, es-
pecially as future growth will depend largely
on an improvement of human resources in the
construction industry (Dutta & Bilbao-Osorio,
2012; Arayici, 2012; Gaith, Khalim, & Ismail,
2009). IT plays an important role in improving
both the quality of meeting between the owner
and project team and project construction ad-
ministration; it helps designers to convey their
ideas well. Furthermore, it helps to detect and
avoid any possible future conflict.
Al-Musaid (1990) studied the influence
of owner involvement during the construction
process on projects quality in Saudi Arabia
and used a survey methodology on a selected
sample. Analysis indicated that the owners are
aware of the importance of their involvement
in each phase of the construction process. The
results also showed that those who exercise
close involvement during each phase of the
construction process seem to be more satisfied
with the quality of their end product.
El-Mashaleh, O’Brien, & Minchin (2006)
conducted a study that examined the impact of
(IT) on construction firm performance based
on data collected from 74 construction firms in
the United States. Analysis showed empirical
evidence that (IT) was positively associated
with firm performance, schedule performance,
and cost performance. Rivard et al. (2004)
conducted a study based on eleven case studies
from Canada to define an initial compendium of
best practice on the use of (IT) in the Canadian
construction industry. This study indicated that
the industry could achieve substantial benefits
from the adoption of (IT) had it been more
widespread.
Attar & Sweis (2010) conducted a study
to find evidence about the connection between
the (IT) use in contracting companies and Job
satisfaction. Results point out that more invest-
ment in technology would increase employee
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job satisfaction regarding intrinsic, extrinsic
and general perspectives. In addition, construc-
tion activity in general and construction (IT) in
particular is showing great promise in emerging
economies.
In conclusion, although many studies were
conducted relating to (IT) and the construc-
tion sector, nevertheless, the connection and
impact of Information Technology on quality
of the construction projects has not been given
desirable attention, especially in Jordan. Based
on that, this research seeks to study the impact
of (IT) adoption on the quality of Jordanian
construction projects.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
AND RESEARCH MODEL
There are many theories used in research about
technology adoption (Wade 2009) as cited in
Oliveira and Martins (2011). The most used
theories are the technology acceptance model
(TAM) (Davis 1989; Davis, Bagozzi, & War-
shaw, 1989), theory of planned behavior (TPB)
(Ajzen 1985, Ajzen 1991), unified theory of
acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT)
(Venkatesh, Morris, Davis, and Davis, 2003),
diffusion of innovation (DOI) (Rogers 1995),
and the technology, organization, and envi-
ronment (TOE) framework (Tornatzky and
Fleischer 1990). In the following we will discuss
some of theories about technology adoption.
The Technology Acceptance
Model (TAM)
Davis (1989) develops the Technology Ac-
ceptance Model to find out what factors cause
people to accept or reject an information tech-
nology. He suggests that perceived usefulness
and perceived ease of use are the two most
important individual beliefs about using an
information technology. Perceived usefulness
is defined as “the degree to which a person
believes that using a particular system would
enhance his or her job performance”. Perceived
ease of use is defined as “the degree to which a
person believes that using a particular system
International Journal of Information Technology Project Management, 6(3), 26-40, July-September 2015 31
would be free of effort”. These two behavioral
beliefs, perceived usefulness and perceived
ease of use, then lead to individual behavior
intention and actual behavior. Davis (1989)
finds that perceived usefulness is the strongest
predictor of an individual’s intention to use an
information technology
DOI
As cited in (Oliveira and Martins, 2011), DOI
is a theory of how, why, and at what rate new
ideas and technology spread through cultures,
operating at the individual and firm level. DOI
theory sees innovations as being communicated
through certain channels over time and within
a particular social system. Individuals are seen
as possessing different degrees of willingness
to adopt innovations, and thus it is generally
observed that the portion of the population
adopting an innovation is approximately
normally distributed over time. Breaking this
normal distribution into segments leads to the
segregation of individuals into the following
five categories of individual innovativeness
(from earliest to latest adopters): innovators,
early adopters, early majority, late majority,
laggards (Rogers 1995). The innovation process
in organizations is much more complex. It gener-
ally involves a number of individuals, perhaps
including both supporters and opponents of
the new idea, each of whom plays a role in the
innovation-decision
Technology, Organization,
and Environment Context
The TOE framework was developed in 1990
(Tornatzky and Fleischer 1990). It identi-
fies three aspects of an enterprise’s context
that influence the process by which it adopts
and implements a technological innovation:
technological context, organizational context,
and environmental context. (a) Technological
context describes both the internal and external
technologies relevant to the firm. This includes
current practices and equipment internal to the
firm, as well as the set of available technolo-
gies external to the firm. (b) Organizational
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context refers to descriptive measures about the
organization such as scope, size, and manage-
rial structure. (c) Environmental context is the
arena in which a firm conducts its business —
its industry, competitors, and dealings with the
government (Tornatzky and Fleischer 1990).
The Unified Theory of Acceptance
and Use of Technology (UTAUT)
Venkatesh et al. (2003) formulate a new model
called the Unified Theory of Acceptance and
Use of Technology (UTAUT). UTAUT suggests
that three constructs are the main determinants of
intention to use an information technology. The
three constructs are performance expectancy,
effort expectancy, and social influence. Ven-
katesh et al. (2003) also find that the influence
of facilitating conditions on usage is moderated
by age and experience of the individual. They
define facilitating conditions as “the degree to
which an individual believes that an organi-
zational and technical infrastructure exists to
support use of the system”.
A method is used in this study to investigate
the impact of information technology adoption
on the quality of the project in the Jordanian
construction sector. Unlike the previously dis-
cussed models of IT adoption i.e., TAM, DOI,
TOE and UTAUT, this method is not concerned
with the determinants and/or causes of uses
of technology nor is it concerned about the
rate at which new technologies are being dis-
seminated through different cultures relating
to construction firms, but rather measures the
degree of adoption of the mere tangible aspects
of IT. Figure 1 shows two variables: (IT) adop-
tion (independent variable), and quality of the
project (dependent variable). The independent
variable represents the degree to which IT has
been implemented and used in the organization.
The dependent variable is defined as the degree
of conformance to predetermined standard.
Figure 1 also illustrates relationships among
these variables. For the purpose of investigat-
ing these relationships, four research questions
have been formulated for this study:
32 International Journal of Information Technology Project Management, 6(3), 26-40, July-September 2015
Figure 1. Research model
1. To what extent are information technolo-
gies adopted in the Jordanian construction
sector?
2. To what level does the sample estimate the
impact of information technology adoption
on the quality of the project in general and
in particular during each of its phases:
planning phase, design phase, construction
phase and finishing phase?
3. Is there any statistically significant impact
of information technology adoption on the
quality of the project in general and in par-
ticular during each of its phases: planning
phase, design phase, construction phase
and finishing phase?
4. Are there any statistically significant dif-
ferences in the respondents’ estimation of
the impact of (IT) adoption on the quality
of the project attributed to the variables:
gender, age, qualification and job position?
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Sample and Data Collection
A convenience sample consisting of engineers,
contractors and owners was selected in this
research. The sample was divided into three
categories: 30 consultant engineers, 30 con-
tractors, and 30 owners. A questionnaire was
developed by referring to the (IT) Barometer
Survey ((IT) Barometer Survey-Denmark,
2001) & (Al-Musaid, 1990), whereas ninety
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questionnaires were personally administered
and delivered to respondents. Since the ques-
tionnaire was personally administered, the
response rate was 100%.
Measures
The study tool (questionnaire) consists of
three sections. The first section deals with the
demographic data of the sample: gender, age,
academic qualification, and functional posi-
tion. The second section consists of (17) Items
that measure the extent of use of information
technology in the firm, while the third section
consists of (27) items that measure the impact
of the use of (IT) on the quality of the project
during each of its phases: planning phase, design
phase, construction phase and finishing phase.
Reliability and Validity of
the Questionnaire
Project’s quality scale consists of (27) items
which were measured using a three point Likert
scale. Cronbach’s alpha was used to test the
reliability of the scale. According to Sekaran
(2006), Cronbach’s alpha is a popular test for
data reliability. The test indicated a Cronbach’s
alpha value of (0.95). Since reliability coef-
ficients that are above 0.7 are acceptable, the
questionnaire is internally consistent. Further-
more, the questionnaire was validated by a
panel of professors at the University of Jordan.
International Journal of Information Technology Project Management, 6(3), 26-40, July-September 2015 33

Table 1. Descriptive statistics for the” extent of adopting information technology in the Jordanian
construction sector” arranged in descending order according to the means

No. Articles Mean Standard Rank Level

Deviation
14 Your firm provides access to internet services 2.72 .60 1 High
8 Your work requires that you use (AutoCAD) 2.68 .57 2 High
instead of hand drawing
15 Your firm provides a website on the internet 2.67 .68 3 High
17 (IT) helps in improving the communication process within 2.67 .57 3 High
the firm
16 Your firm provides access to fax service 2.64 .60 5 High
2 The firm Provides PC at your workplace 2.61 .57 6 High
1 The firm adopts modern information technology techniques 2.52 .60 7 High
13 The software provides accurate and error free data 2.44 .63 8 High
9 Your work requires the use (PROKON) for the design 2.44 .76 8 High
7 The firm provides advanced and modern software 2.21 .75 10 Medium
10 Design at your work requires the availability of (ETABS, 2.14 .84 11 Medium
STAAD)
11 Your work requires to use (PRIMAVERA) for planning and 2.04 .77 12 Medium
management purposes
4 The firm provides personal mobile phones financed by the 2.04 .74 12 Medium
company for work purposes
6 The firm provides advanced training courses related to (IT) 1.92 .75 14 Medium
5 The firm provides digital cameras for work purposes 1.88 .79 15 Medium
12 (MS PROJECT) is necessary for planning and management 1.82 .77 16 Medium
purposes
3 The firm provides finance for a home PC 1.60 .76 17 Low

DATA ANALYSIS, RESULTS (1-1.66 = Low. 1.67-2.33 = Medium. 2.34-3.00

AND DISCUSSION
Answering the Research
Questions
Research Question 1: To what extent are
information technologies adopted in the
Jordanian construction sector?
In order to answer this question, the standard
deviations and the means were computed for
the responses of the study sample as seen in
Table 1. Items were measured using a three
point Likert scale. Three ranges for estimates
= High) were used. The Descriptive statistics for
“the extent of adopting information technology
in the Jordanian construction sector” indicated
that the general mean of the results in section
“The IT adoption in construction firms” was
(2.30) with a standard deviation of (.69) which
is considered medium compared to standards
of this study. This result indicates that there is
a statistically significant tendency to adopt (IT)
in the construction sector, and all the articles of
the (IT) adoption field were clearly understood
by the respondents.
Research Question 2: To what level does the
sample estimate the impact of information

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34 International Journal of Information Technology Project Management, 6(3), 26-40, July-September 2015
technology adoption on the quality of the
project in general and in particular during
each of its phases: planning phase, design
phase, construction phase and finishing
phase?
The means and the standard deviations were
computed for the responses of the study sample.
Results indicate that the general means for all
phases ” quality of the project in general” is
(2.47) with a standard deviation of (.69) which
refers to a significant impact of the adoption of
(IT) on the quality of the project in general and
in all of its construction phases. This indicates
that all the articles of this field were clearly
understood by the respondents which is due to
the high level of awareness of the sample and
that they have clear vision of the (IT) role. Ac-
cording to the results of each phase, the study
outcomes showed that phase (3) “construction
phase” came in the first rank with a mean of (2.
49). Also, the study results showed that phase
(2) “design phase” came in second rank with a
mean of (2.49). This result is compatible with
the fact that design and drawing are no longer
done by hand and are often computerized us-
ing special software. Results also showed the
“planning” phase in the last rank with a mean
of (2.45). Those results are consistent with the
study of El-Mashaleh et al. (2006) whose re-
sults provided empirical evidence that (IT) was
positively associated with firm performance,
schedule performance, and cost performance.
Research Question 3: Is there a statistically
significant impact of information technol-
ogy adoption on the quality of the project
in general and in particular during each of
its phases: planning phase, design phase,
construction phase and finishing phase?
Simple regression test was used to answer
research question number 3. The results can
be seen in Table 2. The test of normality was
conducted where the results of Kolmogorov-
Smirnov statistic were obtained. A non-sig-
nificant result (Sig. value of more than 0.05)
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indicates normality. In the case of this study the
Sig. value was 0.092, suggesting an approximate
normal distribution of scores for “quality of
construction project”. The analysis revealed
a statistically significant impact of the (IT)
adoption on the quality of the project in general,
since t is (5.57) with significance of (.000). This
implies there is a positive proportional relation-
ship between the (IT) adoption and the quality
of the project. The value of R2 (.069) indicates
that the (IT) adoption explained (6.9%) of the
changes that occurred in the quality of the project
in general, and the remaining (93.1%) is caused
by other variables. In addition, the value of
BETA (.26) indicates that the increment of the
adoption of (IT) in the construction sector with
one standard deviation unit will cause an incre-
ment in the quality of the project with a value
of (26.3%). The analysis results are consistent
with (Gaith et al., 2009) research findings that
revealed that firm performance and quality of
projects were related to the level of investment
in information technology.
In conclusion, the results of the third ques-
tion show the following:
A. There is a statistically significant impact
of the (IT) adoption on the quality of the
project in the planning phase. Supporting
this is the value of t (5.604) with signifi-
cance of (.000). Therefore, adopting (IT)
in the construction sector will contribute
significantly to the quality of the project
in the planning phase. Where the value of
BETA (.183) indicates that the increment
of the adoption of (IT) in the construction
sector with one standard deviation unit will
cause an increment in the quality of the
project in the planning phase with a value
of (18.3%)
B. There is a statistically significant impact of
(IT) adoption on the quality of the project
in the design phase. The value of t (5.570)
with a significance of (.000) indicates that
adopting (IT) in the construction sector
will contribute significantly to the quality
of the project in the design phase. Where
the value of BETA (.291) indicates that
International Journal of Information Technology Project Management, 6(3), 26-40, July-September 2015 35

Table 2. Regression results of “impact of adopting IT on project’s quality” during each phase

The Planning Phase

T Sig R R2 BETA
5.604 .000 .183 .034 .183
The Design Phase
T Sig R R2 BETA
5.570 .000 .291 .085 .291
The Construction Phase
T Sig R R2 BETA
5.020 .000 .222 .049 .222
The Finishing Phase
T Sig R R2 BETA
3.768 .000 .242 .058 .242
The General Quality
T Sig R R2 BETA
5.577 .000 .263 .069 .263

the increment of the adoption of (IT) in
the construction sector with one standard
deviation unit will cause an increment in
the quality of the project in the design phase
with a value of (29.1%).
C. There is a statistically significant impact of
(IT) adoption on the quality of the project
in the construction phase. The value of t
(5.020) with a significance of (.000) indi-
cates that adopting (IT) in the construction
sector will contribute significantly to the
quality of the project in the construction
phase. The value of BETA (.222) indicates
that the increment of the adoption of (IT) in
the construction sector with one standard
deviation unit will cause an increment in
the quality of the project in the construction
phase with a value of (22.2%).
D. There is a statistically significant impact
of the (IT) adoption on the quality of the
project in the finishing phase since the
value of t is (3.768) with a significance
of (.000). Consequently, adopting (IT)
in the construction sector will contribute
significantly to the quality of the project in
the construction phase. The value of BETA
(.242) indicates that the increment of the
adoption of (IT) in the construction sector
with one standard deviation unit will cause
an increment in the quality of the project in
the finishing phase with a value of (24.2%).
E. There is a statistically significant impact
of the (IT) adoption on the quality of the
project in general. The value of t (5.577)
with a significance of (.000) indicates that
adopting (IT) in the construction sector will
contribute significantly to the quality of the
project. The value of BETA (.263) shows
that the increment of the adoption of (IT)
in the construction sector with one standard
deviation unit will cause an increment in
the quality of the project in general with a
value of (26.3%)
Research Question 4: Are there any statistically
significant differences in the respondents’
estimation of the impact of (IT) adoption
on the quality of the project attributed to
the variables: gender, age, qualification
and job position?

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36 International Journal of Information Technology Project Management, 6(3), 26-40, July-September 2015

Table 3. The means, standard deviations and t-test according to the gender

Female Male
Gender Sig t St.
St. deviation Mean Mean
Deviation
Quality .038 2.09 .47 2.38 .42 2.58

Table 4. The means, standard deviations and t-test according to age

Sum of Mean
Age Df F Sig.
Squares Square
Between Groups .820 3 .273 1.31 .27
Within Groups 17.87 86 .208
Total 18.69 89

To answer research question number 4, the respondents’ ages. As regards qualification,

means and the standard deviations of the sample
estimation of the impact of (IT) adoption on the
quality of the project in general were obtained
according to the demographic characteristics.
To point out the significance of the statistical
differences, t test was applied to the (gender,
qualification) while, a one-way ANOVA test
was applied to the (age, job title).
Regarding Gender, results revealed that
there are statistically significant differences
at a significant level of (.05) with t value of
(2.09) and a significance of (0.038). This could
be due to the differences in the type of work
between men and women. As far as the age is
concerned, there are no statistically significant
differences at a significance level of (.05). The
F value is (1.31) with a significance of (0.27).
That’s due to the little differences between the
there are statistically significant differences at
a significance level of (.05) where the t value
is (2.17) with a significance of (0.032). That’s
because those who have higher degrees tend to
have more experience, theoretical knowledge
and skills. Regarding the job title, there are no
statistically significant differences at a signifi-
cant level of (.05), since the F value is (1.80)
with a significance of (0.17). This is probably
due to the fact that an engineer could work in
multiple jobs and with different job titles through
his/her career. The results in terms of the means,
standard deviations and t-test according to the
gender, Age, Qualifications and Job Title can
be seen in Tables 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Table 5. The means, standard deviations and t-test according to qualifications

Higher Degree BCs

Qualification Sig t
St. deviation Mean St. deviation Mean
Quality .032 2.17 .23 2.77 .46 2.44

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International Journal of Information Technology Project Management, 6(3), 26-40, July-September 2015 37

Table 6. The means, standard deviations and t-test according job title

Sum of
Df Mean Square F Sig.
Squares
Between Groups .743 2 .37 1.80 .171
Within Groups 17.94 87 .20
Total 18.69 89

CONCLUSION the project in the Jordanian construction sector.

Results show that more investment and encour-
The results of this research suggest that in- agement of the use of (IT) in the construction
vestment should be increased in specialized, sector essentially increases the quality of end
advanced software and design related courses product in the construction throughout its four
for workers and engineers to practice and master phases (Planning, Design, Construction and
the use of the needed software. Results revealed Finishing).
that the establishment of criteria for selecting a
project location scored the lowest mean among
the planning phase articles. Consequently, more ACADEMIC AND MANAGERIAL
GIS programs should be applied for the selec- IMPLICATION
tion of project location, which provides more
The findings of the study have implications on
accurate and feasible alternatives for project
academic and managerial perspectives. This
location.
study fills a gap by investigating the impact of
Also, this research revealed that the use of
(IT) adoption on the quality of projects in the
the international standard system for arranging
Jordanian construction sector. The findings of
documents of the construction contracts: (quan-
this study confirm that more investment and
tities, schedules, specifications, drawings) has
encouragement of the use of (IT) in the construc-
the lowest score among the articles in category.
tion sector essentially increases the quality of
This implies that firms should be directed to
end product in the construction throughout its
enhance the use of international standards sys-
four phases (Planning, Design, Construction
tem for arranging papers and documents, which
and Finishing).
means better safety for keeping and referring
It is recommended that managers support
back to documents and papers when needed for
new technology adoption initiatives. For ex-
study or revision purposes.
ample, encourage employees to use the technol-
In addition, the planning phase scored the
ogy and demonstrate its benefits. In addition,
lowest among the four phases of the construc-
the study implies that construction companies
tion process. So, the planning phase requires
should invest in specialized advanced software
more attention which can be done by directing
and design related courses for workers and
employees into using more advanced software.
engineers to practice and master the use of the
Encouragement of the use of (IT) in the planning
needed software. Hence, initiating a modern
phase can yield better analysis and estimation of
management style that enables employees to
cost and alternatives that would help in establish-
perform more effectively and contribute towards
ing better understanding for the project itself.
organizational growth and construction sector
In conclusion, this research attempted to
development.
provide a basis for understanding the perception
of IT adoption and its impact on the quality of

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38 International Journal of Information Technology Project Management, 6(3), 26-40, July-September 2015
PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE
The future holds rapid and ongoing paradigm
shifts for the construction sector, especially in
the areas of Information Technology. Technol-
ogy promises to eliminate redundancy and im-
prove efficiency, as well as change practice and
activities while it improves quality outcomes.
LIMITATIONS AND
FUTURE RESEARCH
A convenience sample was selected in this re-
search. Increasing sample size is recommended
and more construction companies should be
included to ensure more findings’ generaliza-
tion. Further studies should be directed towards
finding challenges of (IT) adoption in the con-
struction companies. In addition, further studies
need to incorporate responses from customers to
measure the effectiveness of (IT) adoptions. The
aspects of this research could be improved by
applying the methodology used in this research
to other developing countries, after incorporat-
ing some of the major theories of technology
adoption such as Technology Acceptance Model
(TAM), Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), Dif-
fusion of Innovation (DOI), Unified Theory of
Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT),
and the Technology, Organization and Environ-
ment (TOE) framework in order to integrate the
behavioral aspects of (IT) adoption on quality
of construction projects in developing countries.
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Ghaleb J. Sweis is a Professor of Project Management at The University of Jordan /Department of Civil
Engineering. He currently serves as the Vice President of the University of Jordan. He has many published
articles in the areas of Construction Management, Quality Management and Project Management. He also
has three published books in operations management, project management and communications management.
Rateb J. Sweis is an Associate Professor of Project Management at The University of Jordan /Department
of Business Administration. He served as the Vice Dean of the Jordan Institute of Diplomacy, an advisor
to the Minister of Finance and is currently a faculty member in the Department of Business Management
at the University of Jordan. He has many published articles in the areas of quality management, project
management and productivity. He also has five published books in operations management, project man-
agement and communications management.
Muhannad Al-Shboul is an Associate Professor of e-Learning in the Department of Curriculum and Instruc-
tion at the Faculty of Educational Sciences, The University of Jordan. His areas of specialization are Web
Design, e-Learning, and Educational Technology. His main research interests are e-Learning, e-Government,
Distance Learning, e-Content Development, and Educational Technology Utilizations in Education. Dr.
Al-Shboul has obtained several funded research grants from the Deanship of Scientific Research at the
University of Jordan. So far, he has published more than 20 articles in reputed International Journals in
his filed of specialization, published two books in e-Learning, delivered many oral presentations at inter-
national educational conferences, and conducted several training sessions including faculty development,
human resources management, leadership skills, and instructional design strategies. Dr. Al-Shboul received
a M.S. in Computer Science from Northeastern Illinois University and a Ph.D. in Educational Technology
from Northern Illinois University in the United States.
Ghadeer Al-Dweik is a lecturer in the Nursing Faculty at Applied Science University. She obtained her
Master degree in Nursing Service administration from Jordan University of Science and Technology. She
has eight years of teaching experience in the department of Nursing at Applied University in Amman, Jor-
dan. Her area of research is quality improvement, informatics, employee empowerment and organizational
effectiveness. She is currently preparing to acquire a Ph.D in nursing from Jordan University.

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