Hardie, Mary (2011) Technical innovation delivery in small and medium construction enterprises. PhD thesis, University of Western Sydney, Australia.
Abstract
This study investigates occurrences of technical innovation successfully delivered by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the construction industry in the Greater Sydney area. A literature search identified five factors that potentially affect the delivery of technical innovation. These can be summarised under the headings: Company resources; Client and end-user influences; Project-based conditions; Industry networks; The regulatory climate. Under each factor, several related sub-factors were also identified. Mixed method research: Because the management of innovation essentially involves a human element, it was decided that a mixed methods approach would be taken. Any convergences that emerge in the results from the different research strategies can be seen as equating to robustness in the conclusions that may be drawn. Purposive sampling was used to identify potential respondents to a quantitative survey. The main eligibility criterion was a proven track record in delivering a significant technical innovation in the construction market. As the surveys were carried out face-to-face, respondents were restricted to locations in the greater Sydney region and the western hinterland as far as Bathurst in regional NSW. The information contained in the surveys was de-identified for ethical reasons and only aggregate data is presented in this thesis. Seven illustrative case studies which represent the storylines of successful innovation delivery are presented in this thesis. All the technical innovations studied involve significant measurable improvements which may be measured in economic, environmental or social terms and some represent improvements in multiple fields. The case studies were chosen because they represent unique examples of a relatively rare phenomenon; that is, the successful delivery of a high-level technical innovation by a SME construction company. Information on the seven case studies was gathered from multiple sources including trade literature, industry-focused magazines, company websites and personal observation. The case studies were classified by descriptive innovation categories depending on whether the innovation was considered to be proactive or reactive, bounded or unbounded, and intuitive or analytical.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | market; innovation; client; case study |
| Index terms: | construction market, construction industry, purposive sampling, eligibility, mixed method research, aggregate, case study, mixed method, survey, construction company, face, strategy |
| Subjects: | psychology, organization, materials science, market analysis, research methods, data collection methods, industry analysis, management, employment law |
| Topics: | Legal Issues, Engineering Principles, Organizational Design, Research Practice, Business Strategy |
| 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