Productivity follow up in the Swedish construction industry; an investigation of implementation and influencing factors

Abstract

Despite its economic significance, the Swedish construction sector faces persistent productivity stagnation, exacerbated by inadequate follow-up mechanisms that fail to translate technological advancements into measurable efficiency gains. This thesis addresses this gap by investigating how productivity follow-up is currently implemented in Swedish construction projects and identifying the systemic, cultural, and contractual barriers that hinder its effectiveness. We examine the interplay between digital tools, organizational structures, and industry norms to uncover why productivity tracking remains fragmented and underutilized. Combining a systematic literature review with qualitative data from 15 interviews with industry professionals and analysis of 27,000 reclamation cases, we apply grounded theory to map the challenges and opportunities in productivity follow-up. Key results reveal three critical findings: (1) productivity tracking relies heavily on ad hoc methods like Excel, with advanced tools such as BIM and Earned Value Management (EVM) siloed or inconsistently applied; (2) cultural resistance to formalized processes, rooted in Sweden’s lagom ethos, perpetuates improvisation over structured follow-up; and (3) contractual misalignment and weak accountability mechanisms undermine incentives for continuous improvement. These findings contradict assumptions that digital adoption alone can resolve productivity gaps, highlighting the need for integrated systems and cultural shifts. While focused on medium-to-large Swedish firms, the study’s insights may inform similar contexts in Nordic construction. Theoretically, this study redefines productivity follow-up as a sociotechnical challenge, bridging literature on digital transformation with institutional barriers. Our study contributes to the practice with an original, empirically grounded framework that explains how organizational culture, contractual structure, and digital infrastructure jointly influence follow up effectiveness. Practically, it provides construction firms with targeted recommendations to standardize productivity metrics, align performance incentives within contracts, and integrate AI-enabled tools into daily routines. By contextualizing Sweden’s productivity paradox, this work advances strategies to transform follow-up from a procedural formality into a strategic lever for industry-wide improvement