PhD Position Realising Business Impact from Construction Software

This PhD project investigates how construction firms turn software into measurable business value, and why digital management tools succeed, stall, or fail in practice.

Job description

This PhD project investigates how construction firms realize value from construction software. The central question is how digital investments are translated into measurable business value. Rather than studying software adoption as a technical issue, the project examines value realisation as an organisational and strategic process. It focuses on the alignment between enterprise-level decision-making and project-level implementation, including tensions between standardisation and flexibility, enterprise integration and project autonomy, and strategic intent and operational use.

The research is planned to use a comparative multiple-case study design. You will conduct in-depth empirical research with construction firms undergoing digital transformation. This will include interviews with executives, IT leaders, digital transformation leads, project managers, and site teams; document and data analysis; and, where possible, on-site observation of software use in active project settings. The qualitative case study work will be complemented by a targeted survey of industry decision-makers.

The expected outcome is a better understanding of how construction firms define the business case for digital software, how they organize implementation across firm and project levels, and what distinguishes successful, partial, and failed trajectories of value realisation. It should be noted that digital software here refers to field management software and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, not product modelling software such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), although knowledge of BIM can be helpful. The project will contribute to academic debates on digital transformation, construction management, project-based organizing, and firm performance. It will also produce practical guidance for executives, project teams, and digital transformation leads seeking to make better decisions about construction software implementation.

You will be based in the Department of Management in the Built Environment at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU Delft. The project will be supervised by Daniel Hall, Eleni Papadonikolaki, and Hans Wamelink, and will be associated with the DigiConstruct Lab. The PhD will also engage with an industry sponsor, Hilti, and industry partners through regular meetings, workshops, and empirical fieldwork.

Job requirements

You should have:

• A master’s degree in construction management, civil engineering, architecture, built environment studies, management, organisation studies, information systems, innovation studies, or a related field.
• A strong interest in digital transformation, construction software, project-based organizations, and the business value of technology.
• Affinity with empirical research methods, especially qualitative case study research, interviews, observations, and document analysis.
• The ability to engage with both academic literature and industry practice.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to connect organisational, technological, and financial perspectives.
• Strong ability to work, write and speak in English. Proficiency in Dutch is an advantage but not required.
• The ability to work independently towards completion of the PhD while collaborating with the TU Delft research community and proactively with industry practitioners.
• Experience with construction, digital tools, ERP systems, project management software, BIM, field management platforms, or software implementation is an advantage.
• Candidates are encouraged to apply, even if they do not meet all of the requirements above.

Working environment

You will join the Department of Management in the Built Environment at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU Delft, in a research environment focused on improving the built environment through a broad set of disciplines including architectural design, urban planning, building technology, social sciences, process management, and geo-information science.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5 year contract includes an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.