Promoting the digital transformation of the South African quantity surveying profession through the implementation of change management theories

Abstract

The construction industry is lagging behind in the digital race, thus not living up to its potential to drive the knowledge economy of the Built Environment (BE). This paper explores the motivations for change: why the 4+5IR is worth not resisting and what 4IR technologies could benefit the Quantity Surveying Profession (QSP). The introduction to the new concept of change management is used to illustrate how the QS workplace can go about embracing digital transformation (4IR), concentrating on human-centric, sustainable and resilient nuances (5IR). A form of documentary research, namely a literature review study, has been undertaken to review pertinent research and extract relevant information though content analysis about the digitalisation relevant to the Built Environment, the construction industry and its value chain, and the Quantity Surveying Profession specifically; knowledge innovation and creativity economy, as well as how change management strategies assist the implementation of digital transformation. The QSP, as part of the BE, appears to have compelling reasons to adopt 4IR to improve and enhance their service offering to the construction industry value-chain, thereby contributing to the BE’s attainment of the SDGs. To accept the challenge of digital transformation, the application of change management theories in the QS workplace offer the opportunity to learn new concepts as well as adopt 4IR technology, through a scientific approach for QS practices to accept the challenge of digital transformation. The paper offers a roadmap toward achieving digital transformation by the QS community based on a literature review study, however, it is suggested these be tested through empirical data collected among QS practices who have determinedly set about adopting 4IR technology. The QSP risks becoming inexorable, if it continues to ignore the 4+5IR. The ‘science’ of change management offers a forensic approach to efficiently manage a transformative process and should be an approach which QSs’ respect and value, given they apply it in their every-day activities.