IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bcp/journl/v9y2025issue-6p4672-4681.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Enhancing Digital Leadership for Managers in the Construction Industry

Author

Listed:
  • Mohamad Zahierruden Ismail

    (Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia)

  • Ahmad Faiz Azizi Ahmad Fauzi

    (Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia)

  • Mohd Ruzaini Che Zahari

    (Landscape Architecture Department, Faculty of Built Environment & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia)

Abstract

The digital transformation driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) has significantly altered the operational landscape of the construction industry. The integration of technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Internet of Things (IoT) has necessitated the emergence of a new leadership paradigm—digital leadership. However, the industry’s entrenched reliance on traditional methods, fragmented workflows, and low digital literacy have hindered the full-scale adoption of these advancements. Considering these challenges, this study aims to identify effective strategies for enhancing digital leadership skills among construction project managers. A quantitative research design was employed, with data collected via structured questionnaire survey distributed to 78 project managers across contractor and consultant organisations in Malaysia. Data were analysed through both descriptive statistics (mean & standard deviations) and inferential analysis (Kruskal–Wallis H test) to identify significant differences across respondent groups. The findings revealed five key strategic domains for enhancing digital leadership: (1) comprehensive training and development programmes, (2) implementation of digital tools and software, (3) strengthening networks and collaboration, (4) establishing policies and cybersecurity protocols, and (5) promoting exploitation and application of digital innovations. These strategies were widely acknowledged across respondents, indicating a shared understanding of digital leadership development needs. The study concludes that fostering digital leadership requires more than technical upskilling, it demands a cultural shift supported by structured initiatives and visionary leadership. As a way forward, construction organisations should institutionalise leadership development frameworks, encourage continuous digital literacy programmes, and align leadership strategies with national digitalisation goals. This will better equip project managers to lead in an increasingly digitised construction environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohamad Zahierruden Ismail & Ahmad Faiz Azizi Ahmad Fauzi & Mohd Ruzaini Che Zahari, 2025. "Enhancing Digital Leadership for Managers in the Construction Industry," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(6), pages 4672-4681, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-6:p:4672-4681
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/Digital-Library/volume-9-issue-6/4672-4681.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/enhancing-digital-leadership-for-managers-in-the-construction-industry/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vinit Parida & Joakim Wincent, 2019. "Why and how to compete through sustainability: a review and outline of trends influencing firm and network-level transformation," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Sambo Lyson Zulu & Farzad Khosrowshahi, 2021. "A taxonomy of digital leadership in the construction industry," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(7), pages 565-578, July.
    3. Rui Mu & Huanming Wang, 2022. "A systematic literature review of open innovation in the public sector: comparing barriers and governance strategies of digital and non-digital open innovation," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(4), pages 489-511, April.
    4. Bahareh Nikmehr & M. Reza Hosseini & Igor Martek & Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas & Jurgita Antucheviciene, 2021. "Digitalization as a Strategic Means of Achieving Sustainable Efficiencies in Construction Management: A Critical Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-12, April.
    5. Andreas Wijaya, 2024. "Determining the Antecedents of Digital Leadership: The Nexus of Skill, Role, and Style," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(2), pages 161-175.
    6. Turgut Karakose & Ibrahim Kocabas & Ramazan Yirci & Stamatios Papadakis & Tuncay Yavuz Ozdemir & Murat Demirkol, 2022. "The Development and Evolution of Digital Leadership: A Bibliometric Mapping Approach-Based Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-26, December.
    7. Porfírio, José António & Carrilho, Tiago & Felício, José Augusto & Jardim, Jacinto, 2021. "Leadership characteristics and digital transformation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 610-619.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sambo Lyson Zulu & Ali M. Saad, 2023. "A Sensemaking Perspective of Digitalisation in Construction Organisations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.
    2. Alexandra–Daniela SIVULCA & Maria-Madela ABRUDAN & Diana Claudia SALA & Nicolae BIBU, 2024. "Navigational Dynamics In The Digital Age: Digital Leadership And E-Leadership In Organizational Transformation," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 33(1), pages 618-625, July.
    3. Weber, Ellen & Büttgen, Marion & Bartsch, Silke, 2022. "How to take employees on the digital transformation journey: An experimental study on complementary leadership behaviors in managing organizational change," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 225-238.
    4. Turgut Karakose & Ibrahim Kocabas & Ramazan Yirci & Stamatios Papadakis & Tuncay Yavuz Ozdemir & Murat Demirkol, 2022. "The Development and Evolution of Digital Leadership: A Bibliometric Mapping Approach-Based Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-26, December.
    5. Karolina Bähr & Alexander Fliaster, 2023. "The twofold transition: Framing digital innovations and incumbents' value propositions for sustainability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(2), pages 920-935, February.
    6. António Sacavém & Andreia de Bem Machado & João Rodrigues dos Santos & Ana Palma-Moreira & Helena Belchior-Rocha & Manuel Au-Yong-Oliveira, 2025. "Leading in the Digital Age: The Role of Leadership in Organizational Digital Transformation," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-21, February.
    7. Liukai Wang & Caiting Wang & Larisa Yarovaya & Heshu Huang, 2024. "Trade credit and corporate digital transformation: The role of managerial ability," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 59(3), pages 779-806, August.
    8. Titov Sergei & Trachuk Arkady & Linder Natalya & RD Pathak & Danny Samson & Zafar Husain & S Sushil, 2023. "Digital transformation enablers in high-tech and low-tech companies: A comparative analysis," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 48(4), pages 801-843, November.
    9. Xiaoxu Zhang & Xinyu Du, 2023. "Industry and Regional Peer Effects in Corporate Digital Transformation: The Moderating Effects of TMT Characteristics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-22, March.
    10. Simone Sehnem & Adriane A. Farias S. L. de Queiroz & Susana Carla Farias Pereira & Gabriel dos Santos Correia & Edson Kuzma, 2022. "Circular economy and innovation: A look from the perspective of organizational capabilities," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 236-250, January.
    11. Jarmo Uusikartano & Hannele Väyrynen & Leena Aarikka-Stenroos, 2020. "Public Agency in Changing Industrial Circular Economy Ecosystems: Roles, Modes and Structures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-27, November.
    12. Xin Tan & Jinfang Jiao & Ming Jiang & Ming Chen & Wenpeng Wang & Yijun Sun, 2024. "Digital Policy, Green Innovation, and Digital-Intelligent Transformation of Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-23, August.
    13. Qiao, Penghua & Zhao, Yuying & Fung, Anna & Fung, Hung-Gay, 2025. "How digital leadership guides ESG sustainability," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PB).
    14. Muhammad Bilal & Zhao Xicang & Wu Jiying & Jan Muhammad Sohu & Sadaf Akhtar & Muhammad Iatzaz Ul Hassan, 2025. "Digital Transformation and SME Innovation: A Comprehensive Analysis of Mediating and Moderating Effects," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(1), pages 1153-1182, March.
    15. Mohammad Javad Bidel & Hossein Safari & Hannan Amoozad Mahdiraji & Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas & Jurgita Antucheviciene, 2022. "A Framework for Project Delivery Systems via Hybrid Fuzzy Risk Analysis: Application and Extension in ICT," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(17), pages 1-22, September.
    16. Guanqiao Zhang & Tao Wang & Yuhan Wang & Shuai Zhang & Wenhao Lin & Zixin Dou & Haitao Du, 2023. "Study on the Influencing Factors of Digital Transformation of Construction Enterprises from the Perspective of Dual Effects—A Hybrid Approach Based on PLS-SEM and fsQCA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-22, April.
    17. Alhamzah Alnoor & Abbas Gatea Atiyah & Sammar Abbas, 2024. "Unveiling the Determinants of Digital Strategy from the Perspective of Entrepreneurial Orientation Theory: A Two-Stage SEM-ANN Approach," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 25(2), pages 243-260, June.
    18. Raffaella Tabacco & Maria Chiarvesio & Rubina Romanello, 2024. "Exploring the crossroads between digital servitization and sustainability from a business marketing perspective," Italian Journal of Marketing, Springer, vol. 2024(2), pages 225-243, June.
    19. Doroteja Vidmar & Marjeta Marolt & Andreja Pucihar, 2021. "Information Technology for Business Sustainability: A Literature Review with Automated Content Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-24, January.
    20. Singh, Shiwangi & Sharma, Meenakshi & Dhir, Sanjay, 2021. "Modeling the effects of digital transformation in Indian manufacturing industry," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-6:p:4672-4681. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Pawan Verma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.