Article

Research on Factors Affecting Intention to Adopt Big data in the Real Estate Field*

Jung-Ik Kyung1, Kook-Chul Lee2,
Author Information & Copyright
1Kookmin University KITRI researcher, guest professor of Graduate School of Real Estate, Myoungji University
2Professor of School of Management Information Systems, College of Business Administration, Kookmin University
Corresponding Author : kclee@kookmin.ac.kr

ⓒ Copyright 2015, Korea Appraisal Board. This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Received: Oct 13, 2015 ; Revised: Oct 26, 2015 ; Accepted: Nov 27, 2015

Published Online: Dec 31, 2015

ABSTRACT

As the society develops, risks and uncertainty increase, and big data is at the center of information technologies that can solve these issues. In research on utilization of big data in the Real Estate field, Kyung(2014) suggests the high utility of big data in the field by using STEEP and correlation analysis based on characteristics of Real Estate and big data. In other words, big data can provide an efficient solution to general problems in the field of Real Estate by collecting and analyzing a large quantity of structured and unstructured data.

This study aimed to identify factors that affect the intention to adopt big data in the Real Estate field based on perception of strategic values and environmental factors suggested by Paret et al.(1988), Quinn & Baily(1994), Elizabeth & Michael(2004), and Kyung(2015), and to propose relevant guidelines to institutions and corporations that consider the adoption of big data.

Based on empirical analysis using SEM (structure equation modeling), the results were as follows: first, it is advisable that institutions and corporations that are considering to adopt big data in the Real Estate field focus on improving the work process, capturing opportunities, and providing information for decision-making. Second, they must fully review internal factors of the Real Estate industry such as IT development trends and changing environment and select crucial business partnership in order to gain competitiveness in the market.

Keywords: Real Estate industry; Big data; Strategic value; Environmental factors

I. Introduction

1. The Background and Purpose of the Study

Informatization promotes convenience and efficiency in our society as an efficient policy tool as well as the driving force behind the development of the country and society. The informatization will solve social problems and create new values for the development of the country and society by the objective analysis of phenomena based on data accumulated so far.

Advanced information technology is essential infrastructure that has moved into society at large, and is becoming the heart of lifestyle and social innovation (Kyung, 2015b). As the modern society develops, risks and uncertainty increase, and information technology and data become means to solve the problem. Particularly, four key information technologies of ICBM (IoT(Internet of Things), cloud, big data, mobile) make the modern society evolve into the human-centered hyper-connected society and the intelligent society, and try to create new values that can resolve risks and uncertainty by means of data generated from them. Among them, big data is emerging from the center as a new paradigm and growth engine of information technology. Big data is technology that can be used as a foundation for the enhancement of industrial competitiveness, the creation of new services and products, and the efficiency enhancement and innovation of public service, through providing support to scientific and rational decision-making, and forecasting the future. Major countries such as the US, EU, Japan, and China are concentrating on the promotion of policies for the vitalization of big data industry in their own countries and the strengthening of its global competitiveness.

It will be possible for big data to be employed usefully in the area of Real Estate due to their close correlation in their characteristics ( Kyung Jung-ik, 2014). That is, big data is one of methods that can solve various problems of Real Estate by collecting and analyzing a large quantity of diverse structured and unstructured data on Real Estate.

To look into previous studies related to this study that intends to vitalize the introduction of big data in the area of Real Estate, they suggest that for the efficient construction and utilization of big data, it is necessary to perceive the strategic value of the introduction of big data, and that it is important to judge whether it is a suitable system for a corporation in terms of an environment for its introduction (Gartner, 2012; Park Jong-man et al., 2012; Yang Chang-joon, 2012; Lee Man-jai, 2012; Sumarker & Ferrell, 2013).

The purpose of this study is to define factors that influence the introduction of big data in the area of Real Estate, on the basis of previous studies that were conducted to derive strategic values and environmental factors for the introduction of the existing information systems or big data. That is, this study intends to suggest guidelines for big data adoption, by clarifying which factors should be focused and promoted in order to introduce big data into the Real Estate section and to use it for the creation of new values and information.

2. The Scope and Methodology of Study

Very few previous studies attempted to derive perception on strategic value and environmental considerations in connection with the introduction of big data in institutions or corporations. Moreover, it may be said that in the area of Real Estate, Kyung Jung-ik (2015) is the only previous study that has relations with the present study. Therefore, this study is going to derive factors having effects on the intention to introduce big data into the area of Real Estate, by investigating factors of successful information system, factors of perception on strategic values, environmental considerations in connection with the introduction of information system, and literature on big data.

First, the spatial target of this study is Korean institutions and corporations concerned with Real Estate. Further, in its contents, it intends to verify the influence that strategic value factors and environmental factors, which are considered at the time of the initial introduction of information system, have on the introduction of big data into the area of Real Estate. That is, it intends to add environmental factors, which failed to be suggested by the existing previous studies, and to verify their influence.

This study reviewed literature on big data and the introduction of information system; and on the basis of the results, derived strategic value perception factors and environmental factors, taking into account the characteristics of Real Estate industry. On this wise, influencing factors were derived and a research model was built, on the basis of previous studies, and detailed measuring variables were developed. To prove the validity of the research model, a questionnaire survey of relevant persons at institutions and corporations where the introduction of big data was anticipated was carried out. The empirical analysis was intended to identify the effects that strategic value perception factors and environmental factors behind the introduction of information system have on the intention to introduce big data into the area of Real Estate.

II. Theoretical Review of the Study

1. Changes in IT Paradigm and the Emergence of Big Data

As the speed of technological change and development increasingly becomes faster, the world has been changing more rapidly for recent 20 years than the past 5,000 years or so. Nassim Nicholas Taleb mentions in his work, The Black Swan (2007), that risk is increasing in the modern society beyond our imagination because of the Internet and globalization. Amidst the financial crisis, the real world has seen the phenomena of aggravated social unrest, such as serious depression, conflicts between classes, unstable employment, and deepening polarization.

In other words, in proportion to the width and speed of changes in all the areas of economy, technology, and society, uncertainty increases more, and thus the importance of future forecasting is further increasing.

At this point of time when these phenomena occur, big data is at the heart of development based on information technology in all areas of society. That is, the emergence of big data is inevitable due to environmental changes, given conditions, and necessities, as follows: First, the development of information technology has reached its limits, and the center of its development has been switched from hardware, software, and network to data utilization. In other words, there occur a change in the mind-set to overcome the limits of advancement in information technology through data utilization, and a switch in environment to one that can utilize data in actuality. Second, an environment has been created in which a large quantity of data can be stored and utilized unlike the past, for expenses for network access, hardware manufacture, and data storage have been considerably lowered. Third, owing to data increased by advancement in information technology (IT), the existing techniques for data storage, management, and analysis have reached the limits that can’t be overcome by them; and thus big data that can lead paradigmatic changes to solve the problem has emerged.

2. Review of Previous Studies on Big Data
1) The utilization value and significance of big data

It is forecast that the utilization of big data will rapidly spread as the range of data application expands further thanks to progress in the existing concept of data and the development of high-performance computers. And risk factors and complexity increase as the speed of social change and development is accelerated, and thus, the necessity for systematically and promptly sensing and coping with changes in environment increases. Further, there has been increasing necessity for strategic means that can improve insight into the future, coping ability, competitiveness and creative power through the analysis of big data, and can achieve the continuous development of the country. In addition, corporations also expect, from the efficient utilization of big data, cost reduction, advanced decision-making, the prompt grasping of customer propensity, the enhanced accuracy of future forecasting, and the discovery of meaningful patterns.

30% of corporation across the world have already ‘implemented’ and ‘utilized’ big data ( Techpro Research, 2015); and according to a 2014 survey of global corporations conducted by Gartner, 73% responded that they ‘had already invested in big data technology or planned to invest in it within two years.’ An increase in the introduction of big data from 20% in 2013 to 30% in March 2015 supports every organization’s positive forecasting; by industries, it has been found that 58% in the telecommunication sector had experience of a big data project, 45% in the manufacture sector, and 38% in the public sector, respectively (Techpro Research, 2015).

It is forecast that big data will solve complicated optimization problems in every area including transportation, medicine, and industrial automation; realize their potentials; and provide visible benefits in the form of the automation and disruptive innovation of all economic sectors that are based on machine-generated data (IBRS, John Bettin).

In Korea also, for jumping up to the ‘data superpower’ matching its reputation as the ‘ICT infrastructure power,’ the government has promoted the industrial development and active utilization of big data, by establishing big data strategies such as the 2013 December strategy for big data industry development intended to secure global competitiveness and effective support to major government projects such as creative economy and Government 3.0 and the 2014 December strategy for data development. Accordingly, Korea’s big data market is growing at an average annual rate of 27%1) ( National Information Society Agency, 2015).

Every nation’s leaders and corporate managers have changed their perception on big data because of the usefulness of big data as mentioned above, and big data is being perceived as an importance source of competitive advantage and values, beyond the simple perception of it as data used in the existing job performance. That is, a government or a corporation that makes good use of big data can find opportunities for competitiveness and a new growth.

McKinsey presented five social and economic values of big data: increasing industrial efficiency; discovering consumer needs and forecasting trends; providing customized service; supporting optimum decision-making; and innovating business model, products, and services.

2) Strategic utilization and value recognition

Sabherwal & King (1995) said that ‘the strategic applications of information systems’ have serious effects on the survival and growth of corporations by supporting the establishment of corporate strategies or providing a direct or indirect help to the implementation of corporate strategies. Tallon et al. (2000) classified the types of IT strategies to support the two dimensions of business strategy, operational effectiveness and strategic positioning, into the internal dimension and the external dimension. In regard to the purpose of building and utilizing information systems, Jang Gui-suk (2001) argues that the information system is used as a tool for securing a company’s strategic advantage as well as is used to enhance internal business efficiency and reduce cost.

Companies’ investment in IT used to be considered in terms of what good results would be obtained from the development of information systems; recently, however, factors of multiple influences that IT systems have on other areas to which they are applied are being considered as more important. Therefore, the purpose of information system introduction is expanding from the focus on direct profits and cost reduction to corporate strategic value perception and the utilization of IT systems for corporate competitiveness based on the perception. Many researchers including Miles (2009) argue that CEO’s decision on IT investment at a company may depend on strategic value perception on investment in the system (Miles, 2009; Elizabeth et al., 2004; Kim Jin-soo et al., 2011). In a study on the performance of IT investment, Li & Ye (1999) argues that CIO’s and CEO’s perception on strategic values may act as an important factor on the introduction of information system. In addition, Lee (2001) mentions that given the multi-level value model according to a company’s IT utilization, mere the introduction and operation of information system do not achieve value and performance, but performance is created by diverse factors such as strategic values connected with IT.

Recently, based on these many previous studies, investigation is made into factors that have effects on the strategic values of the introduction of information system and big data, such as the aspect of products and services, the aspect of management productivity, and the aspect of decision support. First, in ‘the aspect of products and services,’ the factor of ‘the competitiveness of products and services’ factor and the factor of ‘the capturing of opportunities’ are being considered. ‘The competitiveness of products and services’ is said to have positive effects on the strategic value of information system, for problems can be resolved effectively by means of big data ( Steve et al., 2011; Chau & Xu, 2011; McAfee & Brynjofsson, 2012). In addition, ‘the capturing of opportunities’ refers to grasping new patterns on the basis of data accumulated in daily life and finding customer needs that fail to be recognized by customers themselves or competitors (SERI, 2013).

Next, in ‘the aspect of management productivity,’ ‘the shortening of business hours’ and ‘improvement in business process’ are being considered. McKinsey (2011) mentions that the utilization of big data will lead to shortened business hours, which will attain the effects of improvement in industrial productivity by about 0.5-1.0%. Miles (2008), Kim Eun-jeong (2008), Kim Jin-soo et al. (2010), and Steve et al. (2011) report that the introduction of big data enables the discovery of opportunities for improving business process. And Chau & Xu (2011) mentions that big data makes it possible to monitor major corporate activities, supporting the improvement of corporate business process.

Next, in ‘the aspect of decision-making support,’ corporate capability to systematically analyze diverse data generated and built by information systems inside and outside a company can support an executive’s or a manager’s decision-making effectively ( Quinn & Baily, 1994; Lau et al., 2011). Mckinsey (2011) and Gartner (2011) mention that the analysis of big data enables the monitoring of information inside and outside a company and the analysis of trend changes and risk factors, which can provide information necessary for a corporate manager’s or an executive’s decision-making.

As for the study on influence on the introduction of big data into the area of Real Estate in terms of strategic value, Kyung Jung-ik et al. (2015) is the only one of that kind. They argued that it is desirable that institutions and corporations, which are considering the adoption of big data, should focus, among strategic values, on improving business process, capturing opportunities, providing information for decision-making, and analyzing and forecasting decision-making.

4) Environmental factors in introducing information system

Kuan and Chau (2001), Zhu (2004), Zhu et al. (2003; 2004; 2006), and Zhu & Kraemer (2005) argue that environmental factors are important influencing factors in the introduction of information technology. Tornatzky & Fleischer (1990) mention that environmental factors in introducing information system refer to factors that influence a company from environment inside and outside the company, and that the inside of an industry in which business is carried out, competitors, suppliers, and public and governmental agencies belong to them. In addition, Kuan and Chau (2001), Zhu (2004), Zhu et al. (2003; 2004; 2006), and Zhu & Kraemer (2005) also state that in case of introducing information technology, such environmental factors are important influencing factors in the adoption of information system. It was also verified in many other studies; and thus the theoretical foundation for the fact that environmental factors influence the adoption of information technology has been provided.

Xu et al. (2004) says that the newer a system, the more the informatization environment of an organization acts as an important factor in a company’s introduction of new technology.

In studies on the adoption of EDI, Chwelos et al. (2001) and Kuan & Chau (2001) argue that pressure inside a company and external environment influence the company’s adoption of information system. And Igbaria et al. (1997) argues that a company’s adoption of information system is influenced by organizations outside the company.

To put the above previous studies together, environmental factors that influence the adoption of information system may be classified into the inside of industry, the outside of industry, and public sector. In the course of carrying out business, a corporation is influenced by external industries as well as changes in the environment of its relevant industry. Such changes in environment have effects on the aspect of information technology as well as the corporation’s business area ( Igbaria, M., Zinatelli et al., 1997). And a corporation that experiences severer competition within market comes under stronger pressure to accept information technology; and it may be said that such pressure from the inside of industry is an important factor that influences a company’s IT adoption (Zhu, K., Chau, P., 2001). As for the public sector, it refers to the existing characteristics of an organization. And in general, the organization characteristics include corporation, size, the degree of centralization, formalization, management organization, human resources, and resource slack.

III. The Design of Study

1. Establishment of Research Model

As seen in the previous studies, the range of big data utilization is wide, ranging from the efficiency of internal business performance to the forecasting of external risk and the discovery of opportunities, and thus strategic thinking is important. As shown in the previous studies described above, it is found that strategic values and environmental factors profoundly affect the introduction of big data, compared with the existing information systems ( Mckinsey, 2011; Gartner, 2011; McAfee & Brynjofsson, 2012).

Therefore, on the basis of the perception on the strategic value of information system, and the factors in the successful introduction of big data and information system, this study selected the aspect of products and services considering the characteristics of Real Estate industry, the aspect of management productivity, aspect of decision support, and environmental factors (the inside of industry, the outside of industry, and the public) as independent variables; and the intention to introduce big data into the area of Real Estate as a dependent variable. With these variables, the research model was constructed as shown in Fig. 1.

jrea-1-1e-53-g1
Fig. 1. Research model
Download Original Figure
2. Measurement Variables and Their Operational Definitions

As shown in the research model, based on strategic values and environmental factors in the introduction of information system, measurement variables and their operational definitions were established in terms of the intention to adopt big data, as follows:

As seen in the previous studies above, many studies suggest as the strategic values of information system adoption various aspects including the aspect of products and services, the aspect of management productivity, and the aspect of decision support (Quinn & Baily, 1994; Miles, 2008; Steve et al., 2011; Chau & Xu, 2011; McKinsey, 2011; Chau & Xu, 2011; Steve et al., 2011; McAfee & Brynjofsson, 2012; SERI, 2013; Kim Eun-jeong, 2008; Kim Jin-soo et al, 2010).

Unlike the existing information systems, big data provides meaningful information by analyzing data that could not be analyzed before. Big data is said to be able to provide services that improve the competitiveness of products and services through personalization and intelligence, by analyzing diverse patterns based on data and forecasting the future, and capturing a sign of danger in advance and enabling real-time decision-making. Big data enhances insight into the future, coping ability, competitiveness, and creativity (National Information Society Agency, 2013). And McKinsey (2011) and Gartner (2012) suggest five major areas of differentiated performance that can be created by big data, that is, the forecasting of the future, the discovery of hidden needs, reduction in risks, customized service, and real-time response. These five major areas of utilization can enhance the management productivity of products and services in the area of Real Estate; and can provide strategic values that can ultimately improve the competitiveness and performance of a company by providing diverse information on effective risk management and decision-making, together with improved ability in analysis and monitoring (Kyung Jung-ik, 2015).

Therefore, by referring to the previous studies on information system and big data, this study selected the products and services, the management productivity, and the decision support as measurement variables, which are factors that influence the introduction of big data into the area of Real Estate; and their operational definitions and related studies are as shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Measurement variables for the strategic values of big data
Variable Operational definition Related literature
Products and services The degree of big data’s contributing to the improvement of products and services, sensing of risk, and the discovery of opportunities Steve et al.(2011)
Chau & Xu(2011)
McAfee & Brynjofsson(2012)
Steve et al.(2011)
Quinn & Baily(1994)
Miles(2008)
Kim Eun-jeong(2008)
Mckinsey(2011),
Gartner(2012)
SERI(2012)
Kyung Jeong-ik(2015b)
Management productivity The degree of big data’s contributing to the shortened business hours, cost reduction, improved profitability, and improved business
Decision support The degree of big data’s supporting the decision-making of user, manager, and CEO
Download Excel Table

Next, to look into the previous studies on environmental factors in the introduction of information system, they are mostly studies on external environment. In a study on EDI adoption, Iacovou et al. (1995) suggested the environmental factor of external pressures as a significant factor.

Mansfield (1997), Zhu & Kraemer (2005), and Zhu et al. (2004, 2006) showed in their empirical studies that the severer the competition in the market, the stronger the pressure to accept information technology. And Jeyaraj et al. (2006), Sharma et al. (2007), and Matta & Moberg (2006) identified external pressure and the degree of competition as important factors that influence the diffusion and promotion of IT adoption.

Besides this competitive environment, governmental regulations were used as an environmental factor. Umanath & Cambell (1994) empirically analyzed that changes in government regulations have significant effects on a company’s adoption of information system; and Dasgupta et al. (1999) and Zhu & Karemer (2006) also showed that government policies have significant effects on companies’ adoption of information system.

Zhu et al. (2006) argued that regulatory environment is an important factor that influences the diffusion of IT innovation, and has effects on changes in companies’ IT environment.

In addition, Mansfield (1997), Sharma et al. (2007), Zhu & Karemer (2006), and Zhu et al. (2006) mention that a corporation facing severer competition comes under stronger pressure to accept information technology, and that such pressure from the inside of industry is a factor that has great effects on a company’s IT adoption.

On the basis of the above previous studies, this study adopted the three measurement variables of ‘the outside of industry,’ ‘the inside of industry,’ and ‘public environment’ as environmental factors that have effects on the intention to adopt big data; and the operational definitions of the variables are as shown in Table 2.

Table 2. Measurement variables according to the environmental factors of big data
Variable Operational definition Related literature
Environment outside industry The degree of influence that leaders and IT environment outside industry have on big data adoption Iacovou et al.(1995)
Mansfield(1997)
Zhu & Kraemer(2005)
Zhu et al.(2004, 2006)
Umanath & Cambell(1994)
Sharma et al.(2007)
Dasgupta et al.(1999)
Environment inside industry The degree of influence that competitors and IT environment inside industry have on big data adoption
Public environment The degree of influence that related laws, regulations and institutions have on big data adoption
Download Excel Table

IV. Statistical Analysis

1. Research Survey

Domestic studies that tried to derive and apply factors having effects on the intention to introduce big data into the area of Real Estate is so few that there is only one study carried out by Kyung Jung-ik (2015). Cases of big data application in domestic Real Estate industry are also insufficient; some are restricted to the level of pilot test, and relevant persons’ level of knowledge about big data is not very high as well. Therefore, this study selected a sample given this situation, and conducted surveys twice from April 22, 2015 to May 6, 2015, and from July 23, 2015 to August 12, 2015, respectively. 165 copies of the questionnaire were collected, among which 152 copies, excluding 13 insincere responses, were subjected to statistical analysis, using SPSS V.23 and Amos V.23.

As for the characteristics of participants in the surveys, those who engaged in Real Estate industry including Real Estate development, sales, brokerage, and appraisal were 56.5%, public officials and public institution staff were 21.1%, and graduate students were 22.4%; and thus it was attempted to collect perceptions on big data adoption from diverse areas of Real Estate.

Table 3. Statistical characteristics of the sample (Unit: person, %)
Status Total Real Estate worker Public service performer Graduate student
152 86 32 34
Gender Total Male Female
152 96 56
Length of service Total Below 5 years Below 10 years 10 years or more
152 41 39 72
Real Estate (RE) field Field Frequency Ratio Field Frequency Ratio
RE development 26 17.1 RE policy 15 9.9
RE sales 4 4.6 RE research 13 8.6
RE brokerage 11 7.2 RE management 12 7.9
RE appraisal 9 5.9 RE financing 2 1.3
RE auction 9 5.9 Graduate student 34 20.4
RE consulting 5 3.3 Press 5 3.3
RE information providing 7 4.6 Total 152 100
Download Excel Table
Table 4. Detailed measurement items of independent variables
Variable Measurement item Previous researcher
Competitiveness of products and services(B) Can provide customized and intelligent products and services. B1 Steve et al.(2011)
Chau & Xu(2011)
McAfee &Brynjofsson(2012)
Chen et al.(2011)
McKinsey(2011)
Gartner(2011)
SERI(2012)
Helps improve the process for providing a company’s products and services. B2
Improves ability to cope with and support customers’ requirements for products and services in real time. B3
Improves ability to cope with product or service risk factors in real time. B4
Capturing of opportunities(C) Improves ability to capture opportunities for improvement in business process. C1 McAfee &Brynjofsson(2012)
Chen et al.(2011)
McKinsey(2011)
Gartner(2011)
SERI(2012)
Improves ability to capture opportunities for the improvement of products and services. C2
Improves ability to capture opportunities for the development of a new product and service. C3
Improves ability to capture opportunities for business convergence and a new business. C4
Shortening of business hours(D) Can shorten the time of product and service production/distribution. D1 Elizabeth &Michael(2004)
McKinsey(2011)
Gartner(2011)
Steve et al.(2011)
OECD(2011)
Kim & Ka(2012)
Kim Y. M.(2013)
Can shorten the time to cope with a customer’s claim & requirement. D2
Can shorten the time to analyze and predict changes in corporate internal (products/services, production and distribution) and external (customer, competitor, market) environment. D3
Can shorten the time of executive’s and manager’s decision-making. D4
Can shorten the period of new product and service development. D5
Can shorten the period of new business model development and convergence with other area. D6
Improvement in profitability(E) Can increase sales. E1 Elizabeth &Michael(2004)
McKinsey(2011)
Gartner(2011)
Steve et al.(2011)
OECD(2011)
Kim & Ka(2012)
Kim Y. M.(2013)
Can increase market share. E2
Can improve customer satisfaction. E3
Can improve ROI (return on investment). E4
Improvement in process(F) Can improve the process for product production (distribution) and service providing. F1
Can improve the process for analyzing and forecasting the status inside and outside company. F2
Can improve the process for executive’s and manager’s decision-making. F3
Can improve the process for the development of new product and service. F4
Can improve the process for the development of new project and business. F5
Decision support(G) Can effectively support decision-making for coping with issues and risks. G1 Quinn & Baily(1994)
McKinsey(2011)
Gartner(2011)
Steve et al.(2011)
Kim & Ka(2012)
Can provide diverse information for decision-making, based on social phenomena and actual data. G2
Capable of diverse analyses (social analysis, credit analysis, reputation analysis) and prediction for decision-making G3
Outside industry(H) Degree of coping with changes in IT trends and IT environment H1 Iacovou et al.(1995)
Mansfield(1997)
Zhu & Kraemer(2005)
Zhu et al.(2004, 2006)
Umanath & Cambell(1994)
Sharma et al.(2007)
Dasgupta et al.(1999)
Degree of coping with changes in IT environment in other industries H2
Degree of big data adoption in companies of other areas H3
Inside industry(I) Degree of coping with changes in IT trends and IT environment within industry I1
Degree of big data adoption in major competitors I2
Degree of core business partner’s request and recommendation I3
Public environ-ment(K) Degree of changes in government and public agencies’ policies K1
Degree of changes in relevant laws & regulations and institutions K2
Degree of the increase in big data adoption in the public sector K3
Download Excel Table
2. Measuring Instrument and DataAnalysis

This study selected variables and detailed measurement items whose content validity was confirmed, considering the characteristics of Estate industry2) and theories and previous studies that ensure content validity as to the environmental factors and the strategic values of big data and information system adoption. The selected items were measured with a multiple-item Likert scale.

Table 5. Detailed measurement items of dependent variable
Variable Measurement item Previous researcher
Intention to adopt big data in Real Estate area (M) Considering big data adoption M1 Bakos & Treacy(1986)
Johnston & Carrico(1988)
Elizabeth & Michael(2004)
Sharma et al.(2007)
Has established a human resources plan (education, training, recruitment) for the adoption and utilization of big data M2
Has established an informatization plan for big data adoption M3
Download Excel Table
3. Results of Reliability and Validity Testing

First, to test the reliability of survey results, reliability was measured by using Cronbach’s α; and to judge the goodness- of-fit of the research model, the goodness- of-fit of the research unit and the research model was evaluated by applying χ2, RMR, GFI, CFI, NFI, IFI, and RMSEA, indicators of goodness-of-fit provided by the structural equation model.

In addition, a structural equation model was used to investigate the relations of effects that the strategic value factors, that is, the products and services, the management productivity, and the decision support, and the environmental factors have on the intention to introduce big data into the area of Real Estate.

First, principal component analysis was conducted with the measurement variables selected from the previous studies, in order to select constructs through scale purification process; and a varimax rotation was adopted to simplify factor loadings. Criteria for selecting acceptable measurement items in this study were the eigen value of 1.0 or above and the factor loading of 0.4 or above. As a result of conducting factor analysis on independent variables, the same 9 factors as those selected from the review of previous studies were selected; 8 measurement items, which were loaded not suitably to the theoretical structure, were removed; and thus a total of 27 items were finally adopted. As for the dependent variable, 3 items for one factor were adopted. And as a result of evaluating the reliability of measurement items, based on Cronbach α, and examining construct validity, it was found that Cronbach α shows high reliability of 0.746 or above, as shown in Table 6 and Table 7.

In addition, as for the discriminant validity, if a variance extracted between two factors is greater than the correlation coefficient (coefficient of determination, r2) of each factor, it is judged that the discriminant validity has been secured; in this study, it was found that the absolute value of the correlation coefficients of almost all the factors are smaller than 0.8, and thus it is judged that measurement items used in this study secured the discriminant validity.

Table 6. Results of factor analysis for independent variables
Division Component Cronbach α
F J H E K D G B C
F3 .814 .205 .074 .228 .055 .075 .099 .122 .137 .923
F4 .765 .241 .137 .182 .179 .259 .204 .078 .200
F5 .753 .340 .206 .167 .106 .214 .239 .189 .115
F2 .671 .142 .280 .223 .254 .172 .156 .199 .252
F1 .622 .189 .304 .178 .277 .415 .386 .148 .137
J3 .117 .790 .232 .100 .131 .199 .094 .103 .094 .831
J2 .182 .756 .147 .118 .084 .186 .065 .196 .065
H3 .330 .131 .603 .226 .145 .034 .072 .061 .072 .908
H2 .331 .224 .535 .307 .272 -.091 .222 .105 .222
H1 .173 .409 .511 .214 .096 .136 .061 .075 .061
E2 .259 .131 .140 .904 .117 .265 .123 .049 .123 .918
E1 .169 .224 .271 .863 .318 .073 .319 .203 .319
E3 .209 .409 .367 .664 .143 .205 .100 .057 .192
K2 .437 .217 .144 .084 .857 .153 .269 .055 .120 .882
K1 .290 .175 .283 .179 .779 .250 .053 .203 .110
K3 .285 .299 .102 .141 .755 .116 .119 .216
D1 .310 .139 .295 .248 .106 .808 .276 .034 .243 .837
D2 .325 .138 .271 .194 .158 .728 .089 .237 -.197
D3 .198 .110 .367 .132 .217 .621 .212 153 .113
G3 .202 .255 .265 .258 .332 .173 .784 .096 .164 .881
G1 .431 .138 .134 .240 .119 .228 .642 .055 .041
G2 .256 .110 .115 .166 .252 .119 .569 .189 .069
B3 .272 .255 .107 .217 .085 .252 .209 .824 .116 .917
B4 .301 .140 .239 .194 .303 .085 .180 .746 -.030
C1 .288 .271 .201 .050 .211 .303 .097 .211 .809 .746
C4 .214 .420 .211 .262 .113 .211 .217 .336 .590

C4G1 Extraction Method: Principal Component Analysis.

G2 Rotation Method: Varimax with Kaiser Normalization.

a. Rotation coB3nverged in 6 iterations.

Download Excel Table
Table 7. Results of C1 factor analysis for dependent variable
Division Component Cronbach α
M
Considering big data adoption(M1) .826 .877
Introducing human resources for big data utilization(M2) .937
Establishing an informatization plan for big data adoption (M3) .921

Extraction Method: Principal Component Analysis.

a. 1 components extracted.

Download Excel Table
1) The evaluation of the measurement model

The results of testing the goodness-of-fit of the model by combining factors whose unidimensionality was confirmed on the basis of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) show no satisfactory level of goodness-of-fit.

In addition, as for the unstandardized factor loadings and the squared multiple correlations (SMC) between the measurement items and concepts, all parameter estimates about the relationships between the latent variables and the measurement variables show values greater than 0; and all CR values for the estimates also exceed 2, and are good. And SMC show values of 0.4 or higher, and thus it may be said that the latent variables well explain the variance of their relevant measurement variables. In addition, it is judged that the level of reliability for all the variables is good, with their Cronbach’s α being between 0.746 and 0.921.

However, it was attempted to improve the goodness-of-fit of the measurement model by removing additional items from the suggested model twice on the basis of SMC values, as shown in Table 9, or using MI (modification index).

As for criteria for the indices of goodness-of-fit to adopt an optimized model, they were set to 0.9 and above for GFI, AGFI, CFI, and IFI, 0.05 and below for RMR, and 0.1 and below for RMSEA, respectively (Marsh, H. W., Balla, J. R., & Hau, K. T, 1996). The present measurement model shows GFI and AGFI of 0.9 and below; however, given that CFI (comparative fit index), which is free from sample characteristics, is recommended because AGFI can be influenced by inconsistencies caused by sample characteristics, CFI & IFI and RMSEA in this study are found to be 0.9 and above and 0, respectively, which are judged to be on acceptable levels.

Table 8. Results of evaluating the measurement model
Construct Factor loading Standardized factor loading S.E. C.R. SMC Cronbach α
Competitiveness of products and services B4 1.000 .948 .983 .917
B3 .833 .901 .059 14.156 .737
Capturing of opportunities C4 1.000 .854 .868 .746
C1 .777 .698 .100 7.787 .782
Shortening of business hours D3 1.000 .865 .762 .809
D2 .900 .785 .095 9.480 .686
Decision support G1 1.000 .816 .713 .848
G2 1.032 .905 .091 11.394 .710
Improvement in profitability E4 1.000 .809 .871 .912
E2 1.121 .898 .095 11.816 .842
E1 1.193 .941 .096 12.407 .886
Improvement in process F5 1.000 .917 .807 .921
F4 .930 .933 .061 15.234 .655
Inside industry J2 1.000 .842 .819 .831
J3 1.012 .844 .103 9.789 .666
Public environment K1 1.000 .828 .616 .839
K3 1.060 .873 .112 9.501 .748
Outside industry H1 1.000 .884 .487 .902
H2 1.150 .932 .078 14.730 .729
Intention to adopt big data M2 .860 .859 .126 6.844 .812 .920
M3 1.000 .991 .899
Goodness-of-fit of measurement model x²=215.064, df=144, p=0.000, CMIN/DF=1.494, RMR=.034, GIF=.863, AGFI=.779, CFI=.964, NFI=.900, IFI=.965, RMSEA=.064
Download Excel Table
Table 9. Modification of the measurement model by model goodness-of-fit
Division Significance CMIM/DF GFI RMR AGFI CFI NFI IFI RMSEA
Initially suggested model 215.064 0.000 1.494 .863 .060 .779 .964 .900 .965 .064
Modified model 1 181.665 0.001 1.453 .874 .029 .789 .969 .910 .970 .062
Modified model 2 105.186 0.001 .931 .923 .027 .857 1.000 .948 1.007 .000
Download Excel Table
2) Results of analyzing the modified model

Results of verifying the factors, which influence the successful promotion of Real Estate informatization policies, by means of a structural equation model are as follows:

As a result of verification based on the modified model, it was found that, in terms of the strategic value of big data, the capturing of opportunities, the improvement in business process, and the decision support influence the intention to adopt big data in the area of Real Estate. Also, it was found that environment inside Real Estate industry among the environmental factors influences the intention to adopt big data.

Table 10. Influence relationships of the intention to adopt big data with strategic values and environmental factors (Results of analyzing the modified structural equation model)
Path Estimate S.E. C.R. p-value
Intention to adopt ← Improvement of products and services -.174 .305 -.571 .568
Intention to adopt ← Capturing of opportunities .675 .224 2.280 .018**
Intention to adopt ← Improvement in profitability -.359 .190 -1.884 .060
Intention to adopt ← Improvement in business process .736 .237 3.106 .002**
Intention to adopt ← Decision support .670 .204 2.590 .013**
Intention to adopt ← Environment outside Real Estate industry -.164 .619 -.265 .791
Intention to adopt ← Public environment .260 .284 .915 .360
Intention to adopt ← Shortening of business hours .246 .654 .376 .707
Intention to adopt ← Environment inside Real Estate industry .624 .252 1.992 .048**
Goodness-of-fit of the modified model x²=105,186 df=113, p=0.687, CMIN/DF=.931, RMR=.027, GIF=.923, AGFI=.857, CFI=1.000, NFI=.948, IFI=1.007, RMSEA=.000

**: Statistically significant at p<0.05.

Download Excel Table
3) Implications of the results of verification

This study aimed to empirically analyze and identify factors affecting the intention to adopt big data in the area of Real Estate, on the basis of previous studies on the perception of strategic values and environmental factors.

As a result of testing with the structural equation model, the capturing of opportunities, the improvement in business process, and the decision support among the strategic value factors were extracted as factors that influence the introduction of big data into the area of Real Estate. In addition, among the environmental factors, the factor inside industry was identified as an influencing factor.

That is, the adoption of big data in the area of Real Estate makes it possible to capture opportunities, enhance the efficiency of business performance by improving business process, and provide support to decision -making. Policy reports and research reports by domestic and foreign institutions and corporations (Mckinsey, 2011; Gartner, 2011; SERI, 2013; NIA, 2012; National Information Society Agency, 2011) are evaluating big data as information system that has high value in various areas such as enterprise, government, and public institution. Further, major governments around the world and global enterprises recognize big data as information technology whose strategic utilization will enable a country and an enterprise to strengthen their competitiveness in the future.

It may be said that the findings of this study regarding the strategic values are similar to those of Kyung Jung-ik’s (2015) previous study. That is, it is confirmed again that the capturing of opportunities, the improvement in business process, and the decision support are factors affecting judgment on the strategic value of big data adoption in Real Estate.

jrea-1-1e-53-g2
Fig. 2. Results of assumption the suggestion model Note: Path coefficient means standardized, ( ) means C.R. value.
Download Original Figure

V. Conclusion

1. Summary of the Findings

Real exchanges influences with diverse areas such as economy, society, politics, culture, and law; and the consciousness and psychology of the majority of people regarding Real Estate have increasingly more effects. It is not easy to consider such diverse factors comprehensively (Kyung Jung-ik, 2013). Real Estate activities involve diverse aspects including Real Estate sale and purchase, lease, brokerage, utilization, development, location selection, policy-making, and pricing; and ultimate analysis and judgment about them are carried out revolving around the three major aspects of Real Estate (technological, economic, and legal), by sing diverse analysis tools. Big data will enable predictable Real Estate activities by resolving such complex and complicated problems of Estate (Kyung Jung-ik, 2014). This study intended to extract factors that affect the intention to introduce big data into the area of Real Estate, on the basis of the perception of strategic values and the environmental factors suggested by Paret et al. (1988), Quinn & Baily (1994), Elizabeth & Michael (2004), and Kyung Jung-ik (2015); and to suggest guidelines to institutions and corporations that review and promote the adoption of big data.

The results of the empirical analysis of this study suggest that institutions and corporations, which consider the adoption of big data in the Real Estate field, should examine the following aspects of strategic values and environmental factors.

First, it should be possible to enhance business efficiency in Real Estate activities (policy, development, investment, etc.) requiring comprehensive consideration about diverse areas including politics, economy, culture, law, etc., by improving the process of business performance.

Second, it will be possible to create new values from converging diverse data on Real Estate including unstructured data such as social data and web log data as well as a variety of structured data on Real Estate. Therefore, in case of adopting big data, the possibility should be considered for capturing new opportunities from the convergence of diverse data on Real Estate.

Third, it will be possible to make an optimum decision, using valuable information provided by big data. It may be said that Real Estate information activities are continuous activities to reduce uncertainty commonly inherent in Real Estate. The adoption of big data should make it possible to minimize uncertainty by collecting and analyzing diverse unstructured data on Real Estate, which could not be utilized before, and to make a decision based on real-time analysis and forecasting.

Fourth, big data will enable prediction with patterns and trends derived from the past and present diverse data. Prediction based on big data is an important factor that should be considered in case of making a decision on Real Estate activities (Kyung Jung-ik, 2015).

Fifth, the factor of environment inside Real Estate industry will have to be reviewed fully in case of introducing big data into the area of Real Estate.

2. Limitations of the Study and Future Tasks

This study is a follow-up study in which environmental factors are added to the factors of strategic values in Kyung Jung-ik (2015); and aimed to extract factors that influence the intention to adopt big data in the area of Real Estate.

Studies on the adoption of big data in the area of Real Estate are still in their early stages, and the following will have to be complemented in future studies.

First, this study surveyed specialists and graduate students in the area of Real Estate; some subjects, however, failed to understand the contents of the questionnaire, and thus there were limitations in the survey on the perceptions. Therefore, the selection of subjects needs to be carried out carefully, and it is necessary to explain about big data fully before survey.

Second, this study has limitations in that it was conducted on the basis of previous studies on the strategic values of information system and environmental factors, as there are insufficient previous studies on the adoption of big data in the area of Real Estate. There will have to be in-depth studies of influences on the intention to introduce big data in the area of Real Estate, through further expansion of studies on the adoption of big data in the area of Real Estate and sufficient discussions.

Third, this study investigated the whole Real Estate industry, without considering characteristics by Real Estate field, and thus it has limitations in practical application. Therefore, future studies will need to raise actual applicability by considering the characteristics of Real Estate evaluation, policy, consulting, brokerage, etc.

Footnotes

* This article is based on the study, which was primarily in the [Journal of Real Estate Analysis, Vol.1, No.1, pp.51~70, (in Korean)].This research was conducted in 2015 with support from the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2015S1A5B5A01011056).

1) In Korea, big data and its market develop slowly, and the rate of big data adoption among businesses of 250 employees or more, which can adopt it practically, is mere 6.1% (National Information Society Agency, 2014). According to a 2014 survey by the The Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry, corporations using big data are 7.5%, and corporations having a plan to introduce it are also mere 10.9%.

2) The Real Estate industry is national economy’s foundation industry connected directly with human life, and is characterized by that it has a very great ripple effect on economy, such as value-added inducement, employment, production inducement, and price ripple effect on other industries. In Korea, it concentrates on development and sales businesses, centering around development and sales companies and housing finance. And its major businesses including housing management, remodeling, lease business and lease management business, Real Estate finance and investment business still remain outdated and noninstitutional (Lee Sang-young et al., 2015), and thus it will be possible to develop them by the strategic utilization of big data.

References

1.

Chau, J. Xu and H. Chen, 2002, Extracting Meaningful Entities from Police Narrative Reports, in Proceedings of the 2nd National Conference for Digital Government Research (dg.o'02), Los Angeles, CA, May: 19-22.

2.

Chris Yiu, 2012, The Big Data Opportunity, Policy Exchange, www.policyexchange.org.uk.

3.

Chris Yiu, 2012, The Big Data Opportunity, Policy Exchange.

4.

Chwelos, P., Benbasat, I. and Dexter, A., 2001, Research Report : Empirical Test of An EDI Adoption Model, Information and Management, 12(3): 304-321.

5.

Council on National ICT Strategy, 2012, Big data master plan for the implementation of smart country.

6.

Elizabeth, E. and Michael, P., 2004, Electronic Commerce Adoption : An Empirical Study of Small and Medium US Business, Information and Management, 42: 197-216.

7.

Kim, E. J., Lee, J. W. and Yang, H. I., 2008, South Korea's Digital Divide Status and Its Policy Implications: Focused on the 2007 Digital Divide Survey, The Korean Association For Regional Information Society, Journal of The Korean Association For Regional Information Society, 11(3): 75-101. (in Korean).

8.

Gartner, 2011, Hype Cycle for Analytic Applications.

9.

Iacovou, A., Benbasat, I. and Dexter, A., 2003, Electronic Data Interchange and Small Organizations : Adoption and Impact of Technology, Informations Systems, 19 (4): 3-30.

10.

Igbaria, M., Zinatelli, N., Cragg, P. and Cavaye, A., 1997, Personal Computing Acceptance Factors in Small Firm : A Structural Equation Model, MIS quarterly, 15(4): 1-27.

11.

Jang, G. S., 2001, A study on the influence of strategic application of information system on business performance, Doctoral dissertation, Dong-A University: 18-47. (in Korean).

12.

Ka, H. K., 2014, An empirical study on the influencing factors for big data intended adoption, Doctoral dissertation, ChungAng University. (in Korean).

13.

Kim, J. S. and Ka, H. K., 2011, A Study on the Analysis of IT Usage and Improvement Strategy for IT Utilization in Service Industry, Informatization Policy, 18(14): 22-41. (in Korean).

14.

Kuan, K. and Chau, P., 2001, A Perception-Based Model of EDI Adoption in Small Businesses Using Technology- Organization- Environment Framework, Information and Management, 38(8): 507-521.

15.

Kyung, J. I., 2013, Enhance the efficiency of Real Estate with big data. Digital Times, August 19, 2013. (in Korean).

16.

Kyung, J. I., 2014, Plan for the utilization of big data in the area of Real Estate and policy suggestions, Real Estate Management, Korea Real Estate Management Academy, 10: 65-98. (in Korean).

17.

Kyung, J. I., 2015a, Smart & Big Data Society Understanding the Real Estate Informatization, Duman. (in Korean).

18.

Kyung, J. I., 2015b, Enhance the reliability of real estate policy with big data. Digital Times, May 26, 2015. (in Korean).

19.

Kyung, J. I. and Cho, I. C., 2015, Study on Factors Influencing the Strategic Utilization of Big Data in Real Estate Sector. Journal of the Korea Real Estate Industry Society, 1(1): 31-72. (in Korean).

20.

Lee, M. J., 2011, Big Data and Public Data Utilization, Internet and Information Security, 2(2): 359-374. (in Korean).

21.

Lee, S. Y., Son, J. S., Jin, C. H. and Lim, J. M., 2015, Development Process and Task of Real Estate Industries in Korea, Journal of the Korea Real Estate Analysts Association, 21(3): 101-122. (in Korean).

22.

Li, J., Wang Y., Zhang, Z. and Chu, C., 1999, Investigating Acceptance of RFID in Chinese Firms : the Technology-Organization-Environment Framework, Program for the IEEE International Conference on RFID-Technology and Applica- tions, 17(19).

23.

McAfee, T. Brynjofsson, 2012, Big Data: the Management Revolution, Havard Business Review, October; Davenport, 2006, "Competing on Analysis" Harvard Business Review, January: 96-107.

24.

McFarlan, F. W., 1984, Information Technology Changes the Way You Compete, Harvard Business Review, 62(3): 98-103.

25.

Mckinsey Global Institute, 2011, Big Data: The Next Frontier for Innovation, Competition, and Productivity.

26.

Miles, 2008, Patterns of Innovation in Service Industries, IBM Systems Journal, 47(1): 115- 128.

27.

Nassim Nicholas Taleb, 2007, The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable Published May 15th by Random House.

28.

National Information Society Agency, 2011, Creation of New Values: New Possibilities of Big Data and Coping Strategy.

29.

National Information Society Agency, 2013, New Value-Creating Engine: New Possibilities of Big Data and Coping Strategy, Big Data Era that Opens a New Era.

30.

National Information Society Agency, 2015, Direction for the Development of Big Data Viewed from Big Business.

31.

Park, J. M., Um, T. W. and Kim, H. J., 2012, Big Data Analysis Technology Trends and Vitalization Tasks, Information and communications magazine, 29(11): 55-66. (in Korean).

32.

Quinn, J. B. & Baily, M. N., 1994, Information Technology: Increasing productivity in services, Academy of Management Executive, 8(3): 28-48.

33.

Sabherwal, R. and King, W. R., 1995, An Empirical Taxonomy of the Decision Making Processes Concerning Strategic Applications of Information Systems, Journal of Management Information Systems, 11(4): 177-414.

34.

Shumarker, S. R. and Ferrell R. K., 2013, Big Data collaboration: Exploring, recording and sharing enterprise knowledge, Information Service & Issue, 33(3): 257-270.

35.

Steve, L., Eric L., Rebecca S., Michael S. H. and Nina K., Big Data, Analytics and the Path From Insights to Value, MIT Sloan Management Review, Winter 2011, 52(2): 21-31.

36.

Tallon, P. P., Kraemer, K. L. and Gurbaxani, V., 2000, Executives' Perceptions of the Business Value of Information Technology: A Process- oriented Approach, Journal of Management Information Systems, 16(4): 145-173.

37.

Techpro Research, 2015, THE POWER OF IOT AND BIG DATA.

38.

Tornatzky, L. G. and Fleischer, M., 1990, The Processes of Technological Innovation, Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.

39.

Yang, C. J., 2012, Big Data, Window to the Future, Telecommunication Technology Association Journal, 140(3): 16-23. (in Korean).

40.

Zhu, K., Kraemer K. and Xu, S., 2003, Electronic Business Adoption by European Firms: A Cross-country Assessment of the Facilitators and Inhibitors, European Journal of Information Systems, 12: 251-268.

학술지 부동산분석 제10권 제3호 논문 모집 안내 

논문모집을 9월 18일(수)까지 실시합니다.

게재가 확정된 논문에 대해서는 소정의 연구장려금을 지급(200만 원/편)하며, 부동산관련 연구를 장려하기 위해 투고료 및 심사료는 받지 않을 예정입니다.

 

공지사항 보기(클릭)

I don't want to open this window for a day.