Investigating the Acceptance of an Electronic Incident Reporting System in the Construction Industry: An Application of the Technology Acceptance Model
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 149, Issue 5
Abstract
Incident reporting has drawn the attention of safety experts in the construction industry to reduce the likelihood of future hazards by learning from previous events. A number of barriers have been identified that inhibit the effective reporting of safety incidents. Adopting an electronic incident reporting system (E-IRS) has immense potential to overcome these barriers and enhance incident reporting frequency in the construction industry. Nonetheless, the successful implementation of E-IRS requires an in-depth understanding of users’ acceptance of the system and the factors influencing its usage. This research employed a cross-sectional design based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) to quantitatively examine the factors influencing the adoption of E-IRS in the construction industry of developing countries. Data were collected using an online questionnaire survey to test the 11 hypothesized relationships. A total of 128 completed responses are retrieved and the results are analyzed using partial least squares-structural equation modeling. The findings indicate that perceived ease of use and trust are critical determinants that influence the acceptance behavior of E-IRS. Facilitating conditions and technological self-efficacy have a significant positive effect on perceived ease of use. In addition, social influence is found to have a significant impact on trust. The outcomes of this study provide a theoretical basis for all the concerned stakeholders to take effective measures to encourage the use of E-IRS in the construction industry, thereby reducing the likelihood of construction-related incidents.
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Data Availability Statement
Data generated or analyzed during the study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 149 • Issue 5 • May 2023
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© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Apr 19, 2022
Accepted: Nov 8, 2022
Published online: Feb 24, 2023
Published in print: May 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Jul 24, 2023
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