Business environment as a determinant in the uptake of cyber-physical systems for facilities management – a Delphi study

Abstract

Purpose Incorporating digital technologies such cyber-physical systems (CPS) for facilities management (FM) functions is fast gaining attention. However, the rudiments for the effective espousal of such an innovative technology for the delivery of FM tasks have not received scholarly attention. In FM, the business environment is a vital component in achieving organisations’ stipulated objectives. Hence, this study aims to assess the influence of business environment factors in the adoption of CPS for FM activities. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach was adopted for the study using the Delphi technique. Experts were selected through a well-defined process that involved certain criteria. The opinions of the selected experts were gotten in two iterations that were subjected to analysis using statistics of measure for central tendency, and interquartile deviation to ascertain consensus among the experts, while Mann–Whitney U test was deployed in checking the difference in the views of the experts. Findings The results from the study indicated that eight business environment factors were of very high significance in determining the espousal of CPS for FM, while the other eight factors proved to be high significance. Also, there was no significant difference in the opinions of experts from academic institutions and professional practice. Practical implications The findings from the study would provide insight to organisations saddled with FM activities on the prevailing business environment factors that would be influential in adopting a digital technology such as CPS. Originality/value The study contributes immensely to the body of knowledge in the quest for digital transformation in FM delivery. It unveils the significant business environment factors that are influential in the drive for incorporating new innovations such as CPS for FM functions.