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.

CHAPTER ONE GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of the research. It begins by discussing the background of the study and highlighted the main issue under exploration in the problem statement. The next section addresses the aim and objectives of the research followed by the key research questions which guided the inquiry. Subsequently, a summary of the research methodology and the scope for the study was described. The chapter ended with highlights of the organisation of the research.

1.2 Background to research

The architectural firms have been called out on numerous occasions for difficulties relating to the effectiveness, productivity, and quality of the products that they deliver. The major participants in this business, including architects, have frequently been singled out for responsibility regarding this predicament. It has come to light in recent years that one of the key problems that is contributing to the poor performance of the architecture industry is inadequate communication and the interchange of information and data amongst the project team (Sun,& Howard, 2022).

According to Tam (2022), a significant portion of the production issues experienced by architectural firms are found to have a direct and strong connection to the communication and information exchange that occurs between the various stakeholders involved in the architectural project.

It is interesting to note that the degree of technologies that are available in today's marketplace is huge, and the architecture industry should be aware of the benefits that can be gained by making use of these technologies to improve their business and collaboration solutions. Among these technological solutions, information and communication technology, also known as ICT, is frequently seen as an enabler because of its ability to boost productivity and raise the quality of output (Tam 2022).

It has been widely reported that the application of information and communication technology (ICT) in the manufacturing industry has proven to be an effective tool that supports the integration of processes for product development, production, materials supply, communication, and maintenance processes. This is supported by the fact that these structures and communication interfaces have been properly defined. Because of this, the technology, also known as information and communications technology (ICT), has been widely used across a variety of industries to boost competitiveness and cut costs, and it is commonly seen as a means of gaining a competitive advantage today (Tenah, 2022).

In a related note, architectural companies, which have been characterised as adversarial and information dense (Cox and Townsend, 1998), appear to have the majority of their issues linked to the quality and complexity of the information that is provided (Vadhavkar, Pena-Mora, 2022). In contrast to the operations that are continuous, distributed, diverse, and different in other economic sectors, architectural businesses are defined by activities that are discontinuous. It should come as no surprise that this may make the incorporation of ICT in architectural businesses more challenging than in other industries. However, in order for the industry to continue to be competitive in the digital economy of today, significant amounts of innovation and process improvement are required (Vadhavkar, Pena-Mora, 2022).

In recent years, architectural companies have come to see the use of information and communication technology (ICT) as a crucial instrument for enhancing data and communication in architecture processes and for developing new architecture-related economic prospects. Indeed, this acknowledgment has prompted a number of architecture organisations all over the world to adopt and invest in this technology; and the results of several recent surveys imply that there is a trend toward a rising number of enterprises employing ICT in architectural firms (Sun,& Howard, 2022).

It should come as no surprise that numerous arguments have been presented in support of the necessity of incorporating ICT into architectural design and construction projects. According to Gunasekaran et al. (2001), when architects utilise ICT on architectural projects, they may boost their profit levels, improve their operational efficiency, and improve the quality of their work. Additionally, they can reduce the amount of time and expense required for the project. In a similar vein, Tam (2022) claimed that main causes that drive demand for ICT usage in architectural firms include downward cost pressures, the time-specific nature of architectural projects, growing specialisation, and the technical complexity of projects. This trend was also recounted in Ozumba et al (2008), and they hinted that the use of ICT has the potential to enhance both intra and extra site communication, including benefits such as enhanced data and material management, and in essence enhance overall site management processes. [Citation needed]

Again, it is not uncommon for the various parties involved in an architectural project, such as the owner, the consultants, the architect, and the subarchitects, to come in with a set of interrelated and interconnect relationships that call for cooperation and collaboration in order to coordinate time, resources, and communication. This is because these relationships are inherently interdependent on one another. Because of this, the tactical application of information and

The integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) into project work has emerged as an absolute necessity in order to realise this objective in a more timely and comprehensive manner (Tam 2022). The utilisation of appropriate information and communication technology (ICT) based business systems, communication tools, and other shared storage servers can also help to improve common standards for the information and data exchanged between architectural firms (Tenah, 2022).

Despite this, a number of breakthroughs in information and communications technology have opened up fresh doors in the realm of architectural improvement in the areas of communication, collaboration, and information management (Stewart, 2007). For example, cutting-edge uses of information and communications technology include modelling and visualisation tools, mobile computing, and internet-based data interchange in the form of project webs and electronic document management systems.

In a great number of other nations, teleconferencing and online shopping, as well as integrated software like enterprise resource planning (ERP), have been implemented with some measure of success (Tenah, 2022).

Given the vital role that architecture plays in modern society and the growing attention that ICT is receiving in architectural businesses today, Nigerian architectural firms cannot be excluded from this enormous market..  

1.3 Problem statement

the traditional architecture sector all over the world including that of Nigeria are required to move towards innovation of their products including the production processes improvement to achieve more efficient process with products and production methods. Furthermore, current issues of competition as well as increasing client awareness are creating demand for urgent improvement in productivity and

competitiveness in the architecture sector. In effect, this suggest that as architecture is becoming more complex today, a more sophisticated approach is necessary to deal with issues of initiating, planning, financing, designing, approving, implementing and completing a project, an area in which ICT have proved its greatest impact and enormous application potential (Wang,  1994).  

Though, Sarshar et al(2004) have hinted that architects can employ ICTs as an enabler for integration, collaboration, knowledge management, procurement, site management and process improvement; Mak(2001) had reported that the use of ICTs in architecture firms continues to be „piecemeal‟ and that; only few architects are fully able to integrate ICTs with their core business processes. Issues such as computer illiteracy, inadequate knowledge of ICT among others has been cited as the most frequently reported shortcomings of architects in many countries (Samuelson, 2002). Again the fact that architects‟ core business activities are mainly performed on architecture sites and applications that support actual work on site are hard to find has also been referred among others.  

For this reason, the vast benefits offered by ICT in the architectural firms though seems recognized, its adoption and use as normal part of the architecture process is still low; and architects among the major players, have been often been cited as those who use ICT least of all (Peansupap and Walker, 2004).

While this situation could probably be true for the Nigerian architectural firms, specific details regarding the extent of application and problems facing the use of ICT in the Nigerian architectural firms still remain unclear. This study seeks to assess the situation in building architecture firms in Nigeria.  

1.4 Aim of study.

The aimed of the study is to identify the reasons hindering the use of ICT by Architect in Nigeria.

1.5 Objectives of study

The specific objectives of this study are;

• To assess the ICT infrastructure platforms of Architect in Nigeria.

• To explore the level ICT usage among architect

• To identify and evaluate the factors hindering the use of ICT by architect in Nigeria  

1.6 Research questions

To answer the main research problem above, three research questions will be addressed  

1. What is the state of ICT infrastructure in Building architecture firms in Nigeria?

2. To what is extent is ICT being used by building architecture firms in Nigeria?

3. What significant factors hinder the use of ICT by Architect in Nigeria?

1.7 Research methodology

The research was conducted through survey questionnaires. Survey is one of the most cost effective ways to obtain information from large pool of people given better resultsmore specific, accurate, faster and most cost effective ways (McQueen and Knussen,2002;  Farag et al,2009). The companies surveyed were building and civil engineering architecture firms in financial class D1K1 and D2K2.

At first, the study commenced with a thorough literature exploration of both the electronic and hard copy media. This proved helpful in having a better understanding of recent developments of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) aspects in the architectural firms. It further provided insight into the research questions, hypotheses and objectives within the theoretical framework for the study. The relevant aspects of the literature search were reviewed to include areas applicable for the study. Subsequently, structured questionnaire was developed and conducted among top management officials and professionals in the architect organizations who are involved in the architecture process and administration. A number of comments and suggestions from an initial pilot study were used to amend the questionnaire before final distribution. The data received will be analyzed using One Sample T-test statistical tools with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Software.

1.8 Scope of the study

The research focuses on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and its applications in the Nigerian architectural firms. For the purposes of this research, the study focused on ICT usage in the perspective of architecture architects in the financial class D1KI and D2K2 according to the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing classification guidelines in Nigeria. This is because such companies usually undertake large volumes of works employ qualified professionals and hence, have the capacity to engage and appreciate technology (ICT) in their operations.  

The study areas to be covered are Lagos and Abuja. This is because, the distribution of these architect in Nigeria are largely biased towards the city capitals with more than 70% of the registered firms, particularly the large organisations, tend to operate officially in the Abuja and Lagos .