The impact of explorative generative AI usage on construction project professionals' innovative work behavior: a technology affordance actualization perspective

Purpose This study attempts to investigate the influence of generative AI (GenAI) on construction project professionals' innovation, specifically by exploring how and under what contextual conditions the use of GenAI fosters innovative work behavior. Design/methodology/approach Grounded in the technology affordance actualization perspective, we identified explorative GenAI usage as the critical trigger of innovative work behavior, specifically by boosting knowledge acquisition, and organizational support as a buffer of the translating process. The theoretical model was empirically tested using the structural equation modeling approach with 239 valid responses from the Chinese construction industry. Findings The findings reveal that explorative GenAI usage acts as a critical actualization behavior that significantly enhances construction project professionals' knowledge acquisition, which subsequently empowers their innovative work behavior. Crucially, this study highlights that the positive effects of explorative GenAI usage are valid when organizational support is high, instead of low. Originality/value This study contributes to construction project management literature by deepening the understanding of the impact of emerging GenAI on micro-level individual behavioral patterns and provides valuable implications for construction managers in today's GenAI era.