Building digital competence: advancing data-driven culture in the Malaysian construction sector

The operationalisation of a data-driven culture is increasingly recognised as a transformative force for improving productivity and competitiveness within the construction industry. Despite advancements in digital technologies, the construction sector, particularly in Malaysia, has been slow to embrace this cultural shift. This study explores key attributes required for fostering a robust data-driven culture, focusing on leadership, literacy, democratisation, and analytics. A systematic literature review identified 33 critical indicators across these domains, validated through focus group discussions with industry practitioners. Subsequently, a structured questionnaire survey was administered to construction stakeholders in Malaysia. The results indicate that Digital Knowledge Expertise, Competency Measurement, Continuous Professional Development, Quality Assurance, and Financial Resource Allocation are the most influential drivers. Conversely, significant gaps were identified in areas such as external collaboration, predictive analytics, and digital tool proficiency. To address these gaps, this study proposes a conceptual framework that integrates four interrelated drivers and provides a structured pathway for advancing data-driven practices in construction organisations. This framework offers practical implications for aligning leadership, capacity building, and data governance with national digital strategies. This study extends the current literature by providing a new perspective into the competencies required to institutionalise data-driven transformation in developing construction sectors.