Abstract
The global construction industry is increasingly engaging in dialogue and gradually adopting
digital technologies (DTs) in construction activities. These technologies have been
demonstrated to surpass the capabilities of traditional methods in enhancing risk management,
productivity and overall project outcomes. In stark contrast, Lesotho’s construction industry
remains largely disengaged from this digital shift, particularly in the context of risk
management. This gap leaves workers and construction projects exposed to unnecessary risks
and puts the Lesotho construction industry at a disadvantage compared to its regional and
international counterparts that are advancing towards this transformation. To address this gap,
this study assessed awareness and adoption of DTs in construction risk management, evaluated
their potential influence on construction practices, identified main challenges to
implementation and explored measures to improve adoption in Lesotho.
The study adopted a quantitative research design with a positivist philosophical stance. A
questionnaire survey with closed-ended questions was used to collect the data. A total of 101
built environment professionals in Lesotho participated in the study. The data was then
analysed using appropriate descriptive, inferential and multivariate statistics. The findings
revealed an industry deeply rooted in traditional risk management practices with a generally
low level of awareness and adoption of DTs for construction risk management, reflected by
overall mean scores of 2.28 for awareness and 1.50 for adoption in the descriptive analysis.
The study also revealed that DTs can mitigate project management, health and safety, design,
operational, financial, environmental, and procurement risks. However, their adoption is
hindered by several significant barriers, with lack of awareness and understanding, unavailable
infrastructure, poor digital culture and skills shortages ranking among the top constraints as
identified by respondents. The study recommends strategic ways to improve adoption,
including government support, improved education from institutions of higher learning,
investment in research and development and the development of case studies showing potential
benefits. This study offers foundational empirical evidence to guide researchers in exploring
digital adoption strategies, to support industry stakeholders in implementing effective digital
practices and to inform government on policy, infrastructure, and education initiatives
necessary to advance digital transformation in Lesotho’s construction industry, ultimately
enhancing efficiency and safety. Since this study relied solely on quantitative methods, future
research is encouraged to use qualitative approaches, such as interviews or case studies, to gain
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deeper insights into contextual and organisational factors affecting digital transformation in the
Lesotho construction industry.