Innovation in the construction industry : Factors, actors and the client's role

• Innovation in project-based organisations (PBOs), notably in the construction industry, is challenging. Based on a literature review of innovation in PBOs and three empirical cases from the construction industry, this paper explores factors and actors that affect innovation in the 'loosely-coupled' construction industry. The literature review reveals the following factors as important for innovation: solution, initiators, impact, driving forces, development and future aim. When analysing the empirical cases, findings suggest that also the number of interdependent actors affect innovation and that the client's role becomes increasingly important as the number of interdependent actors increases. On generic level tentative findings suggests that there is a difference in scale between process innovations that are systemic or non-systemic dependent upon the number of actors involved. Furthermore, these findings shape directions for future research: to develop better understanding of systemic process innovation in the construction industry; as well as to increase the understanding of how systemic process innovation can diffuse between the interdependent and fragmented actors in the construction industry.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Byggproduktion (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Construction Management (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Client

Project-based organisations

Systemic innovation

Urban development

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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