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Enabling and measuring innovation in the construction industry

Author

Listed:
  • John Gambatese
  • Matthew Hallowell

Abstract

Innovation is vital to successful, long-term company performance in the construction industry. Understanding the innovation process, how innovation can be enhanced and how it can be measured are key steps to managing and enhancing innovation. The factors that affect innovation on a project were identified, as well as how these factors can be used to measure the level of innovation on a project, and the practices and processes that encourage and facilitate innovative changes. Case studies of construction projects in the United States revealed three necessary components of innovation: idea generation, opportunity and diffusion. A variety of practices are used to optimize each component including support and commitment from the owner/client and firm upper management, workforce and project team integration and diversity. Applying the practices identified in the research leads to enhanced innovation through better communication among project team members, integration of the design and construction disciplines, more efficient designs, development of unique ways of completing work and sharing of the lessons learned. The end result of innovation will be projects that successfully meet and exceed cost, quality, schedule and safety goals.

Suggested Citation

  • John Gambatese & Matthew Hallowell, 2011. "Enabling and measuring innovation in the construction industry," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(6), pages 553-567.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:conmgt:v:29:y:2011:i:6:p:553-567
    DOI: 10.1080/01446193.2011.570357
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Yanchun Zhang & Junwei Zheng & Amos Darko, 2018. "How Does Transformational Leadership Promote Innovation in Construction? The Mediating Role of Innovation Climate and the Multilevel Moderation Role of Project Requirements," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-19, May.
    2. José Giménez & Antonia Madrid-Guijarro & Antonio Duréndez, 2019. "Competitive Capabilities for the Innovation and Performance of Spanish Construction Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-24, October.
    3. Wiesenthal, Tobias & Condeço-Melhorado, Ana & Leduc, Guillaume, 2015. "Innovation in the European transport sector: A review," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 86-93.
    4. Marija Mosurović Ružičić & Mirjana Miletić & Marina Dobrota, 2021. "Does a National Innovation System Encourage Sustainability? Lessons from the Construction Industry in Serbia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, March.
    5. Athena Roumboutsos & St�phane Saussier, 2014. "Public-private partnerships and investments in innovation: the influence of the contractual arrangement," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(4), pages 349-361, April.
    6. Zaman, Shah & Wang, Zilong & Rasool, Samma Faiz & Zaman, Qamar uz & Raza, Hamid, 2022. "Impact of critical success factors and supportive leadership on sustainable success of renewable energy projects: Empirical evidence from Pakistan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    7. Sadia Samar Ali & Rajbir Kaur & Shahbaz Khan, 2023. "Identification of innovative technology enablers and drone technology determinants adoption: a graph theory matrix analysis framework," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 830-852, June.
    8. Chen, Xiaoyan & Locatelli, Giorgio & Zhang, Xinyue & Gong, Yunhao & He, Qinghua, 2022. "Firm and project innovation outcome measures in infrastructure megaprojects: An interpretive structural modelling approach," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    9. Nor’Aini Yusof & Ernawati Mustafa Kamal & Lai Kong-Seng & Mohammad Iranmanesh, 2014. "Are Innovations Being Created or Adopted in the Construction Industry? Exploring Innovation in the Construction Industry," SAGE Open, , vol. 4(3), pages 21582440145, September.
    10. 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.

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