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Improving Construction Industrialization Practices from a Socio-Technical System Perspective: A Hong Kong Case

Author

Listed:
  • Xin Jin

    (Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong)

  • Geoffrey Q. P. Shen

    (Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong)

  • E. M. A. C. Ekanayake

    (Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong)

Abstract

Construction Industrialization (CI) tends to improve industrial performance and contributes substantially towards global sustainability. Considering these merits, many countries and regions, including Hong Kong, have released policies to promote CI uptake. However, those policy interventions ignore the dynamic influence of stakeholders and technologies, which significantly influence the efficient management of CI. In response, this study aimed to objectively depict a real socio-technical system of CI uptake based on a representative case study in Hong Kong. Further, this study identified the critical issues associated with the CI uptake and proposed policy-related recommendations to overcome the key issues. In addition, this study proposed a novel approach based on two-mode social network analysis to facilitate the analysis from a socio-technical perspective. Theoretically, this depicts the interactions of construction industry stakeholders and artifacts within a dynamic, complex socio-technical environment, indicating a new stance for construction management. Finally, this research also provides valuable implications for the government to anticipate the impact of different CI policies on promoting its uptake within the complex socio-technical system.

Suggested Citation

  • Xin Jin & Geoffrey Q. P. Shen & E. M. A. C. Ekanayake, 2021. "Improving Construction Industrialization Practices from a Socio-Technical System Perspective: A Hong Kong Case," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-20, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:17:p:9017-:d:622853
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Weiping Jiang & Lirong Luo & Zezhou Wu & Jianbo Fei & Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari & Tao Yu, 2019. "An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Prefabrication Incentive Policies in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-24, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zezhou Wu & Lirong Luo & Heng Li & Ying Wang & Guoqiang Bi & Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari, 2021. "An Analysis on Promoting Prefabrication Implementation in Construction Industry towards Sustainability," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-21, October.
    2. Xin Jin & Geoffrey Q. P. Shen & Qian-Cheng Wang & E. M. A. C. Ekanayake & Siqi Fan, 2021. "Promoting Construction Industrialisation with Policy Interventions: A Holistic Review of Published Policy Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-23, November.

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