IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/taf/conmgt/v26y2008i10p1029-1041.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Implementing innovation in construction: contexts, relative boundedness and actor-network theory

Author

Listed:
  • Chris Harty

Abstract

Theoretical understanding of the implementation and use of innovations within construction contexts is discussed and developed. It is argued that both the rhetoric of the 'improvement agenda' within construction and theories of innovation fail to account for the complex contexts and disparate perspectives which characterize construction work. To address this, the concept of relative boundedness is offered. Relatively unbounded innovation is characterized by a lack of a coherent central driving force or mediator with the ability to reconcile potential conflicts and overcome resistance to implementation. This is a situation not exclusive to, but certainly indicative of, much construction project work. Drawing on empirical material from the implementation of new design and coordination technologies on a large construction project, the concept is developed, concentrating on the negotiations and translations implementation mobilized. An actor-network theory (ANT) approach is adopted, which emphasizes the roles that both human actors and non-human agents play in the performance and outcomes of these interactions. Three aspects of how relative boundedness is constituted and affected are described; through the robustness of existing practices and expectations, through the delegation of interests on to technological artefacts and through the mobilization of actors and artefacts to constrain and limit the scope of negotiations over new technology implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris Harty, 2008. "Implementing innovation in construction: contexts, relative boundedness and actor-network theory," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(10), pages 1029-1041.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:conmgt:v:26:y:2008:i:10:p:1029-1041
    DOI: 10.1080/01446190802298413
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01446190802298413
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1080/01446190802298413?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Kjell Tryggestad, 2012. "Perspectives on Projects," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(5), pages 416-420, February.
    2. Li Liu & Xuerong Wang & Zhaohan Sheng, 2012. "Achieving ambidexterity in large, complex engineering projects: a case study of the Sutong Bridge project," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(5), pages 399-409, March.
    3. Chantal Fuhrer & Émilie Hoareau & Alain Cucchi, 2017. "The Role of Information and Communication Technology in the Dynamic of an Innovation Network: An ANT Approach [Le rôle des Technologies de l’Information et de la Communication dans la dynamique d’u," Post-Print hal-01656771, HAL.
    4. Satu Reijonen & Rebecca Pinheiro-Croisel, 2012. "The dynamics of innovation influents: contracts and sustainable energy innovation uptake," Post-Print halshs-00743386, HAL.
    5. Pessoa, S. & Guimarães, A.S. & Lucas, S.S. & Simões, N., 2021. "3D printing in the construction industry - A systematic review of the thermal performance in buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    6. Gonzalez Carlos Francisco Lucena & Rodriguez Antonio Manuel Reyes & Manzanares Francisco Villena, 2024. "Disruptive method for managing BIM design and construction using Kanban," Organization, Technology and Management in Construction, Sciendo, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, January.
    7. Lauri Pulkka & Miro Ristimäki & Karoliina Rajakallio & Seppo Junnila, 2016. "Applicability and benefits of the ecosystem concept in the construction industry," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(2), pages 129-144, February.
    8. Eva Boxenbaum & Susse Georg & Gabriela Garza de Linde & Satu Reijonen & Franck Aggeri & Aurélien Acquier & Rebecca Pinheiro-Croisel & Mathias Béjean, 2010. "Innovation In Sustainable Construction: Eco-Cities And Social Housing In France And Denmark," Post-Print halshs-00743393, HAL.
    9. Gabriel Castelblanco & Jose Guevara & Harrison Mesa & Diego Flores, 2020. "Risk Allocation in Unsolicited and Solicited Road Public-Private Partnerships: Sustainability and Management Implications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-28, June.
    10. Eva Boxenbaum & Aurélien Acquier & Rebecca Pinheiro-Croisel & Gabriela Garza de Linde, 2011. "Processes Of Institutional Innovation: Reference Tools For Eco-Cities In France And Denmark," Post-Print halshs-00743372, HAL.
    11. Sambo Lyson Zulu & Ali M. Saad, 2023. "A Sensemaking Perspective of Digitalisation in Construction Organisations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.
    12. Scharmann, Anne, 2024. "Innovation collaboration between family firms and startups: Insights from the German construction industry," Junior Management Science (JUMS), Junior Management Science e. V., vol. 9(2), pages 1384-1413.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:taf:conmgt:v:26:y:2008:i:10:p:1029-1041. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Longhurst (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.tandfonline.com/RCME20 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.