Innovation and users: virtual reality in the construction sector

Firms in the construction sector act as users of technologies produced outside the sector. This paper considers their role as users and explores their contribution to the 're-innovation' of an emerging information technology - virtual reality. An empirical study of virtual reality use within the construction sector has been conducted using the multiple case study method. Data was collected within 11 lead-user organizations (and four suppliers) and emerging patterns of use are explored. An analytic framework is developed to investigate how two aspects of project-based construction processes - project size and extent of design reuse - affect the technological requirements of users. Divergent requirements are found for the use of virtual reality on different types of projects and, through supplier interaction, these may lead to different families of solutions.