Leiringer, R (2003) Technological innovations in the context of public-private partnership projects. PhD thesis, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden.
Abstract
The idea that the private sector can play an important partin the financing and creation of built assets and the subsequent operation of public services has gained ground over the last decade. This development has contributed to the rise in public-private partnership (PPP) projects in many countries and within many areas in the public sector. From the construction perspective, these projects are usually credited as providing real incentives for the actors involved, as well as creating a business environment that is conducive to innovation and improved practices, especially in the construction phase. This thesis examines the validity of these statements in the context of the PPP procurement route and the extent to which the actors involved in the design and construction phases are presented with, and able to exploit, opportunities for technological innovation. A multiple-case study approach was adopted for the empirical part of theresearch. Four major projects, containing significant construction work and completed between 1997 and 2002, were studied: three in the UK and one in Sweden. Project personnel - the principal actors in the design and construction phases - were interviewed at length. Within the findings there is evidence that the existence of certain conditions on projects, and particular actions arising in relation thereto, can lead to a marked propensity towards innovative behaviour.The conclusion is reached that it is possible to implement technological innovations successfully on PPP projects, but that there is reason to be cautious in promoting this procurement route as a prescription for success in the construction sector. There are inhibitors in the process that have the potential to limit the amount of innovation achieved on a project. The thesis discusses this matter and identifies three key areas - communication and information, achievingtransparency in the applied framework and risk management - in which actions could be taken in order to improve the prospects for realising technological innovation on PPP projects.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | communication; construction phase; construction sector; innovation; major projects; public-private partnership; risk management; technological innovation; case study; interview; Sweden; UK |
| Index terms: | case study, validity, Sweden, major project, public sector, public services, private sector, partnership, design and construction, risk management, construction work, technological innovation, prescription, construction phase, personnel, interview, evidence, financing, built asset, construction sector |
| Subjects: | Geography, medical science and clinical practice, management, administrative law, industry analysis, partnership management, asset management, evaluation and assessment methods, data collection methods, risk assessment, innovation and technology management, contractual arrangements, strategic project management, project delivery, economic analysis, operations management |
| Topics: | Risk Management, Procurement, Health and Safety, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Geographical Context, Legal Issues, Stakeholder Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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