A framework to facilitate the adoption of Load Bearing Masonry (LBM) technology in the Malaysian housing industry

The utilization of technology in the construction industry has contributed to a dynamic market in the construction industry and the growth of the country. The load-bearing masonry (LBM) system has been identified as an alternative method that could potentially minimize problems at construction sites and benefit the housing companies, however, the adoption of the system is still relatively low. To encourage the adoption and implementation of the LBM building system, the factors that influence the adoption have to be addressed. The aim of this study was to develop a framework for the factors that influence the adoption of the LBM building system. The factors considered were organizational perceptions, organizational readiness, external support, and facilitating conditions. This study also investigated the role of organizational perceptions in mediating the link between the factors and the LBM building system adoption. The study drew from the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the innovation diffusion theory (IDT) for the theoretical bases to explain the LBM building system adoption. The stratified random sampling technique was applied to select the housing developer firms. A total of 118 usable questionnaires was returned for further analysis using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The findings revealed that organizational perceptions influenced the adoption of the LBM building system. The results also showed that organizational readiness, external support, and facilitating conditions had significant effects on organizational perceptions. Additionally, organizational perceptions significantly mediated the relationship between organizational readiness, external support and the LBM building system adoption. In general, the findings provided a framework for the factors that influence the adoption of the LBM building system in the Malaysian housing developer firms. Finally, this study proposed several recommendations for future research, housing and construction industry.