Sexton, M; Barrett, P S; Miozzo, M; Wharton, A and Leho, E (2001) Innovation in small construction firms: Is it just a frame of mind? In: Akintoye, A (ed.) Proceedings of 17th Annual ARCOM Conference, 5-7 September 2001, Salford, UK.
Abstract
Findings will be provided on an eighteen-month research project involving in-depth case study and action research fieldwork with seven small construction companies to understand the role and significance of innovation for them. A key finding of the work has been the organizational and market pressures for senior managers to focus principally on operational, short-term innovation, to the detriment of more long-term, strategic innovation. The potentially adverse implications of this 'innovation myopia' are discussed, and the need for senior managers in small construction firms to think more strategically and holistically is argued.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | innovation; owners; small construction firms |
| Index terms: | construction company, owner, small construction firm, case study, action research, manager |
| Subjects: | sociology, practitioner, organization, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here