Digital twin technology and operations management efficiency in construction: the roles of information transparency, collaboration and digital readiness

Purpose This study examines how Digital Twin Technology (DTT), defined as a virtual replica of physical systems enabled by real-time data, influences operations management efficiency (OME) in the construction industry. Drawing on Resource Orchestration Theory (ROT), it explores the organizational mechanisms through which DTT contributes to OME, focusing on information transparency (IT) and collaborative decision-making (CDM), and examines organizational digital readiness (ODR) as a contextual condition shaping the DTT–OME relationship. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a quantitative research design using survey data collected from 313 construction professionals. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling to test the hypothesized relationships, and necessary condition analysis was used to assess critical enabling factors. The model evaluates direct, mediating, and moderating effects among DTT, IT, CDM, OME, and ODR. Findings Results reveal that DTT has a significant positive effect on OME and strongly enhances both IT and CDM. IT exerts the greatest influence on OME, while CDM contributes as a complementary factor. Both IT and CDM mediate the relationship between DTT and OME, indicating that operational improvements occur through enhanced information visibility and coordinated decision-making. ODR significantly moderates the DTT–OME relationship in a negative direction. Although this finding is contrary to the hypothesized positive moderation, the effect suggests that the marginal operational contribution of DTT may diminish as baseline digital readiness increases, potentially reflecting overlapping digital capabilities, integration complexity, and established organizational routines. Originality/value This study examines how DTT improves operational efficiency in construction by enhancing IT and CDM. Rather than treating DTT adoption as an end in itself, the study focuses on the pathway through which continuously synchronized digital information is transformed into organizational mechanisms that support construction operations. It further identifies ODR as a boundary condition that shapes the marginal value of DTT. By focusing on fragmented information flows, temporary organizational structures, and multi-stakeholder coordination, the study provides a construction-specific explanation of digital twin value creation.