INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) DEPLOYMENT IN ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS IN NIGERIA

By

Oladipo Ayodeji DARE-ABEL - MAT NO. – CUGP/05/140

Presented To

Department of Architecture

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.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - i
Declaration    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ii
Certification    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - iii
Dedication    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - iv
Acknowledgements   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - v
Abstract    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - vi
Table of Contents  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - vii
List of Tables    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - xiii
List of Figures    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - xv
List of Plates    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - xvii
 
Chapter One: Introduction
11  Background to the Study - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
12  Statement of the Problem - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3
13  Aim and Objectives - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5
14  Research Hypothesis - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5
15  Justification of the Research - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6
16  Research Design - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7
17  Scope of Study - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
18  Limitation of Study - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
19  Key Definitions and Concepts - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9
110  Summary - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11
 
Chapter Two: Review of Literature
 
21  Introduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12
22  Architecture and the Architect - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12
23  Scope of Architectural services - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 14
  231  Scope of Services - - - - - - - - - - - - - p; 232  Normal Architectural Service: The Three Stages - - - - - - - 15
24  Architectural Practice in Nigeria - - - - - - - - - - - - - 16
  241  Architecture and Regulatory Institutions in Nigeria - - - - - - 18
25  Historical Account from CAD to BIM - - - - - - - - - - - - 19
251  The Advent and Development of the Computer - - - - - - - - 19
  252  Evolution and Development of CAD, CAAD and Graphic Packages - - 20
  253  Evolution of Communication Systems - - - - - - - - - - 22
26  The Real and the Virtual - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 23  
27  ICT Applications in Architectural Firms - - - - - - - - - - - 24
  271   Areas of Applications of ICT in Architectural Firms - - - - - - - 24
28  ICT Adoption and Deployment - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 25
  281  General Administrative Application - - - - - - - - - - - 26
  282  Core Architectural Applications - - - - - - - - - - - - 27
  283   Computer Aided Design (2D and 3D CAD) - - - - - - - - 27
  284   CAAD as Distinct from CAD - - - - - - - - - - - - 30
  285   Digital Object Library (DOL) - - - - - - - - - - - - 30
  286   Design and Virtual Modelling - - - - - - - - - - - - 30
  287   Animations and Simulations - - - - - - - - - - - - 32
288  5D Modelling - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 32
29  BIM and Its Significance to Architectural services - - - - - - - - - 33
291  Challenges of BIM Solutions - - - - - - - - - - - - - 34
210  Web-Based Deployment - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 35
211  Human Resource for CAD, CAAD and BIM - - - - - - - - - - 38
  2111  Outsourcing - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 40
  2112  Training - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 42
212  Hardware and System Requirements - - - - - - - - - - - - - 44
213  Challenges of ICT Deployment in Nigerian Firms - - - - - - - - - 45
  2131 Security - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 46
  2132  Availability - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 47
  2133  Accessibility - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 48
  2134  Affordability - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 48
214  Productivity Gains from ICT Deployment - - - - - - - - - - - 49
215  Summary of Chapter - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 50
 
Chapter Three: Theoretical/Conceptual Framework
 
31  Introduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 52
32  Research Approaches and perspectives in the Study of ICT in Organizations - - 52  
321  The positivist Perspective - - - - - - - - - - - - - 52
322  The Interpretive Perspective - - - - - - - - - - - - 54
323  The Critical Perspective - - - - - - - - - - - - - 54
33  Theoretical Framework for the Study  - - - - - - - - - - - - 55
34  Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) - - - - - - - - - - - 55  
35  Task-Technology Fit (TTF) Model - - - - - - - - - - - - 57
36  Summary of Chapter - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 60

Chapter Four: Research Methodoloour: Research Methodology 
41  Introduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 61
42  Research Design - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 61
43  Research Population - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 62
44  Subjects - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 62
45  The Sampling Frame - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 62
46  Sampling Technique - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 65
47  Sample Size - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 66
48  Pilot Study - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 69
49  Method of Data Collection - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 69
  491 Questionnaire/Interview Design - - - - - - - - - - - - 70
  492 Data Collection and Treatment - - - - - - - - - - - - 70
  493 Field Work Details - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 77
411  Summary - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 78
 
Chapter Five: Organization and Information and Communication Technology
Characteristics of Architectural Firms

51  Introduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 80
52  Period of Establishment of Firms - - - - - - - - - - - - - 80
53  Date of ICT Introduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 81
54  Number of Branches Operated - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 82
55  Annual Turnover of Firms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 83
56  ICT Characteristics of Architectural Firms - - - - - - - - - - - 85
  561 Availability of Websites - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 85
  562 Number of Available Workstations - - - - - - - - - - - 86
  563 Quality of Installed Systems - - - - - - - - - - - - - 87
  564 Operating System Used - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 87
  565 Availability of Internet Connectivity - - - - - - - - - - - 88
  566 Forms of Internet Connectivity - - - - - - - - - - - - - 89
  567 Internet Service Providers (ISP) - - - - - - - - - - - - 89
  568 Mode of Connectivity Deployed - - - - - - - - - - - - 90
57  Annual Turnover and Quality of Installed Systems - - - - - - - - - 91
58  Website Availability and Date of ICT Introduction - - - - - - - - - 94
59  Implications of Findings - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 94
510  Summary - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 95
 
Chapter Six: Task Technology Fit in the Deployment of Design Technologies in
Architectural Firms

61  Introduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 97
62  Task Significance in Architectural Firms - - - - - - - - - - - 97
63   Task Technology Fit Model - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 99
64  Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) of TTF Constructs for Design Technologies - 100
641  AutoCAD Deployment EFA - - - - - - - - - - - - 101
642  ArchiCAD Deployment EFA - - - - - - - - - - - - 102
643  Revit Architecture Deployment EFA - - - - - - - - - - 103
644  SketchUP Deployment EFA - - - - - - - - - - - - 104
65  Task-AutoCAD (TTF) Model - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 105
  651  Hypothesis Test - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 108
66  ArchiCAD TTF Models - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 111
  661  Hypothesis Test - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 111
67  Revit (Architecture) TTF Models - - - - - - - - - - - - - 112
  671  Hypothesis Test - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 113
68   SketchUp TTF Model - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 114
  681  Hypothesis Test - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 116
69  Implications of Findings - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 116
610  Summary - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 118
 
Chapter Seven: Human Capital Availability and Capability of Architectural Firms

71  Introduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 120
72  Number of Staff in the Architectural Firms - - - - - - - - - - 120
73  Staff with Architectural Training - - - - - - - - - - - - - 121
74  Draughtsmen in Architectural Firms - - - - - - - - - - - - 122
75  CAD Literate Personnel - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 123
76  BIM Literate Personnel - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 123
77  Staff Proficiency Levels with Design Technologies - - - - - - - - 123
771  Staff Proficiency Levels AutoCAD - - - - - - - - - - 124
772  Staff Proficiency Levels ArchiCAD - - - - - - - - - - 125
773  Staff Proficiency Levels Revit Architecture - - - - - - - - 126
774  Staff Proficiency Levels – SketchUp - - - - - - - - - - 127
  775  Staff Levels of Proficiency in the deployment of the Internet - - - - 128
  776  Staff Proficiency Levels – Autodesk Buzzsaw - - - - - - - - 129
  777  Staff Proficiency Levels – Renderers - - - - - - - - - - 130
  778  Staff Proficiency Levels – Other Software - - - - - - - - - 131
78  Outsourcing in Architectural Firms - - - - - - - - - - - - - 132
  781   Adoption of Outsourcing - - - - - - - - - - - - - 133
  782   Services Previously Outsourced - - - - - - - - - - - - 133
  783   Services Currently Outsourced - - - - - - - - - - - - 134
  784   The Future: Services Considered for Outsourcing - - - - - - - 135
790  Existence of Staff Training Programmes - - - - - - - - - - - 136
710  Training Methods Employed - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 137
711  Funding for training programmes - - - - - - - - - - - - - 138
712   Availability of CAD/BIM Proficient Staff and the Existence of  
Training Programmes - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 139
713   Availability of CAD/BIM Proficient Staff and CAD/BIM Staff Needed - - 141
714  Availability of CAD /BIM proficient staff and Training Methods in  
Architectural Firms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 142  
715  Implications of Findings - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 144
716  Summary - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 145

Chapter Eight: Acceptance of Computer Supported Collaborative Work in
Architectural Firms in Nigeria

81  Introduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 147
82  Adoption of CSCW in Architectural firms - - - - - - - - - - - 147
83  The Regression Analysis of the Extended TAM Model - - - - - - - 148
84   The Revised Extended TAM model - - - - - - - - - - - - - 151
85  Implications of Findings - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 152
86  Summary - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 152
 
 
Chapter Nine: Summary, Discussions and Conclusions
91  Introduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 153
92   Overview of the Study - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 153
93   Summary of Findings - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 156
94   Discussion - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 158
95  Areas of Future Study - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 163
96  Contribution to Knowledge - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 163
97  Recommendations - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 164
98  Conclusion - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 164
 
References - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 166
Appendices - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 178



LIST OF TABLES

Table 21  Report of the number of Architects, firms and firm/membership ratio - - 19
Table 22  Major Design and Collaboration technologies and their Classification - - 35
Table 41  Table showing the distribution of licensed architectural firms in the various
cities across the country (2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010) - - - - - - 63
Table 42  Table showing the distribution of licensed architectural firms in the various
cities across the country with respect to geographical grouping (2008) - - 64
Table 43  Table showing the sample of licensed architectural firms in the various
selected cities across the country - - - - - - - - - - - - 67
Table 44   Table showing the number, percentage of duly completed questionnaire and
overall response rate - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 69
Table 45  Definition of Variables - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 74
Table 51   Correlation Matrix relating Seven Characteristics of Sampled  
Architectural Firms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 84
Table 52   Annual turnover and quality of installed systems Cross tabulation - - - 92
Table 53   Website Availability and Date of ICT Introduction Cross tabulation - - 93
Table 61  Frequency of Tasks in Architectural Firms - - - - - - - - - 99  
Table 62  Variables Extracted/Factor loadings for AutoCAD dataset - - - - - 102  
Table 63  Variables Extracted/Factor loadings for ArchiCAD dataset - - - - 103  
Table 64  Variables Extracted/Factor loadings for Revit Architecture dataset - - 104  
Table 65  Variables Extracted/Factor loadings for SketchUP dataset - - - - - 105
Table 66  Model Summary for AutoCAD TTF/TAM Test - - - - - - - 107
Table 67  Model Summary for ArchiCAD  TTF/TAM Test - - - - - - - 110
Table 68  Model Summary for Revit Architecture TTF - - - - - - - - 115
Table 69  Model Summary for SketchUp TTF/TAM Test - - - - - - - 124
Table 71  Staff Mean Proficiency Levels in the Available ICT Tools - - - - - 133
Table 72  Average Percentage of firms’ staff per Proficiency Level - - - - - 149
Table 81  Model Summary for CSCW TAM Test - - - - - - - - - - 143

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 21  Operational Structure of AutoCAD Showing the Link between Graphic,
Numeric and Visual Data in the Production of a Complete CAD
Document - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 29
Figure 22  Graphical Description of the relationship between the Internet, Extranet and
Intranet - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 37
Figure 23  Personnel levels, Roles and relationships within an ICT driven Firm - - 39
Figure 31  Technology Acceptance Model - - - - - - - - - - - - 55
Figure 32  Extended Technology Acceptance Model - - - - - - - - - 56
Figure 33  Task-Technology Fit Model - - - - - - - - - - - - - 57
Figure 34  Integrated TAM/TTF Model - - - - - - - - - - - - - 58
Figure 35  Integrated TAM/TTF Model for the study showing the various constructs - 59
Figure 41   Chart showing the distribution of Architectural firms in the sample - - 78
Figure 51  Architectural Firms’ Year of Establishment - - - - - - - - - 81
Figure 52  Architectural Firms’ Date of ICT Introduction - - - - - - - - 82
Figure 53  Number of Branches Operated by Architectural Firms - - - - - - 83
Figure 54  Architectural Firms’ Annual Turnover - - - - - - - - - - 83
 Figure 55  Availability of Websites by Architectural Firms - - - - - - - - 85
Figure 56  Number of Available Workstations in Architectural Firms - - - - - 86
Figure 57  Architectural Firms’ Quality of Installed Systems - - - - - - - 87
Figure 58  Operating System Utilized by Architectural Firms - - - - - - - 88  
Figure 59  Availability of Internet Connectivity in Architectural Firms - - - - - 88
Figure 510  Forms of Connectivity Employed by Architectural Firms - - - - - 89
Figure 511  Mode of Connectivity Deployed by Architectural Firms - - - - - - 91
Figure 512   Annual turnover and quality of installed systems - - - - - - - 93
Figure 513   Bar Chart showing Website Availability and Date of ICT Introduction - 94  
Figure 61   Architectural Firms’ Percentage Usage of design software - - - - 100
Figure 71   Number of Staff in the Architectural Firms - - - - - - - - - 121
Figure 72   Number of staff with architectural training in the firms - - - - - 122
Figure 73   Staff Level of Proficiency in the deployment of AutoCAD - - - - 125
Figure 74   Staff Level of Proficiency in the deployment of ArchiCAD - - - - 126
Figure 75   Staff Level of Proficiency in the deployment of Revit Architecture - - 127
Figure 76   Staff Level of Proficiency in the deployment of SketchUP - - - - 127
Figure 77   Staff Level of Proficiency in the deployment of Autodesk Buzzsaw - - 129
Figure 78   Staff Level of Proficiency in the deployment of Renderers - - - - 130
Figure 79   Staff Level of Proficiency in the deployment of other software - - - 131
Figure 710  Percentage of firms Outsourcing Major Tasks - - - - - - - - 135
Figure 711  Existence of Training Programmes in Architectural Firms - - - - - 136
Figure 712  Method of Training Programmes in Architectural Firms - - - - - 138
Figure 713  Funding for Training Programmes - - - - - - - - - - - 139  
Figure 714  Availability of CAD/BIM Proficient Staff and CAD/BIM Staff Needed - 142
Figure 81  Adoption of CSCW by Architectural Firms - - - - - - - - - 148  
Figure 82  Extended Technology Acceptance Model for the Acceptance/
Adoption of CSCW in Architectural Firms in Nigeria - - - - - - 151

 LIST OF PLATES
Plate 1    A rendered AutoCAD view of a proposed State Assembly Complex - - 27
Plate 2   A rendered AutoCAD view of a proposed State Assembly Complex - - 28
Plate 3    A rendered Revit Architecture model - - - - - - - - - - 33
Plate 4    An Architect designing on a desktop system in the firm’s studio - - - 109
Plate 5    Arrangement of the Workstations in the Firm’s Studio - - - - - 140
Plate 6    Accommodation for Six CAD/BIM Proficient Staff in the Firm’s Studio - 143

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