E-COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN KENYA: A CASE OF TWO BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES IN MOMBASA

Abstract

The construction industry in Kenya is increasingly embracing digital communication tools to enhance coordination, collaboration, and efficiency in project delivery. This study, which focused on Mombasa County businesses, investigated the impact of e-communication tools on the execution of construction projects utilizing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as the anchor theory. The study specifically investigated the influence of four digital platforms, Construction Dashboards, Digital Blueprints and Drawings, Electronic Document Management Systems (EDMS), and Project Management Software (PMS) on implementation indicators such as task efficiency, responsiveness, collaboration, and accountability. A descriptive research approach was used, and 57 respondents from particular construction companies were given structured questionnaires to complete in order to gather quantitative data. Multiple linear regression analysis was one of the descriptive and inferential statistics used in the data analysis process. The findings showed that the implementation of building projects was positively and statistically significantly impacted by all four e-communication tools. EDMS had the greatest influence (B = 0.282, p = 0.000), followed by PMS (B = 0.258, p = 0.000), Construction Dashboards (B = 0.183, p = 0.003), and Digital Blueprints andDrawings (B = 0.176, p = 0.001). The regression model demonstrated a strong explanatory power, with an R-squared value of 0.814, suggesting that 81.4% of the variation in project implementation could be explained by the combined effect of the e-communication tools. The study concludes that the adoption of digital communication technologies significantly enhances construction project implementation by improving information sharing, decision making, and accountability. It recommends that construction firms invest in digital infrastructure and employee training to fully exploit these technologies. Additionally, the National Construction Authority (NCA) should develop supportive policies and incentives to promote the widespread use of e-communication tools in the sector. Future research should expand the scope to include other regions and emerging technologies such as Building Information Modeling and mobile applications..