This thesis is a qualitative analysis regarding the existence of
a digital divide between the industry´s SMEs and large enterprises
and how this impacts their opportunity to utilize digitalization
to support sustainable development. The thesis addresses
the following problem statement: Does the structural
conditions in the construction industry create a digital divide
between Danish architectural enterprises and if so, what significance
does this have for the enterprises ability to utilize
digitalization to support sustainable development?
The methodological approach is a qualitative case-study
based on four case-organizations. The empirical foundation is
based upon a total of six interviews. One with a representative
from each of the four case-organizations, one representative
from Danish Architect Enterprises and one from HD
Lab, a consultancy firm specialized in digitalization in the
construction industry. Furthermore, the projects empirical
foundation is supplemented with relevant research literature
and policy documents from the Danish government and the
EU. The analytical approach is based upon New Institutional
Theory including concepts such as: Institutions, institutional
change, institutional logics, institutional complexity, pluralism,
organizational responses, isomorphism, and organizational
decoupling. Initially an outlook is placed on the historical
evolution of the construction industry, and how this has
formed the industry´s contemporary structural conditions.
Thereafter a contemporary outlook is placed on how these
structural conditions create room for the existence of a digital
divide between the industry´s SMEs and large enterprises.
Finally, an outlook is placed on how the digital divide manifests
itself among the case-organizations.
The study’s key findings are that the industry's structural
conditions favor the larger actors over the smaller ones. On
behalf thereof a digital divide does exist between the
industry's actors. However, the distinction of where the
digital divide manifests itself is between companies with
respectively under or over 50-70 employees. Enterprises
below this threshold have an internalized focus directed at
their own organizations. Enterprises over this threshold
leverage their dominant position by exerting a broader
influence in the industry, by influencing the industry’s
regulation and standardization. Furthermore, the larger
enterprises develop their own tools to support their internal
work with regards to sustainability, whereas the smaller
enterprises await others to develop the tools they are in need
off.