Sergeeva, N and Radosavljevic, M (2012) Idea contribution in construction: In search for evidence of the interface between idea generation and its implementation. In: Smith, S D (ed.) Proceedings of 28th Annual ARCOM Conference, 3-5 September 2012, Edinburgh, UK.
Abstract
To innovate, retain competitiveness, succeed and flourish, construction firms need a constant stream of innovative ideas and suggestions from highly motivated and committed employees. This drive for employee engagement in the innovation process becomes even more apparent in the construction sector with problems of multi-tiered subcontracting and the widespread reliance on self employment. This study investigates idea contribution as a crucial interface between idea generation (i.e. creativity) and its implementation (i.e. innovation). Based on the critical review of construction and mainstream literature on innovation, creativity and employee engagement this study proposes a conceptual framework for employees' perceptions of ideas contribution involved in the processes of converting ideas into new products, processes or services. The framework is derived under the assumption that decisions on whether or not to contribute new ideas for organizational improvement is influenced by personal characteristics (knowledge, perceived radicality of ideas, favouring of ideas, openness to experience, self-confidence and curiosity), group and organizational factors (rewards, managerial support, collaborative team culture, position in the company and in the team) that might well be unique to each organizational unit. The philosophical epistemology adopted in this study is realism that shares positions of positivism and interpretivism where the conceptual framework is based on explanations, understanding, argumentation and is tested using a mixed methods research design (experimental tasks, questionnaires and observations). The preliminary results confirmed the influence of assumed factors on idea contribution where personal characteristics were valued higher than group and organizational factors. Discussion of recommendations for the future research is provided.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction sector; idea contribution; idea generation; idea implementation; realism |
| Index terms: | mixed method, interpretivism, creativity, organizational factor, construction firm, subcontracting, research design, competitiveness, self-employment, positivism, employee engagement, evidence, questionnaire, stream, implementation, realism, conceptual framework, epistemology, construction sector |
| Subjects: | water management, theoretical framing, education and knowledge transfer, philosophical concept, innovation and creative processes, industry analysis, business economics, market analysis, business, organization, research design and methodology, data collection methods, evaluation and assessment methods, contractual arrangements, psychology, knowledge theory |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Research Practice, Sustainability, Procurement, Design Practice, Supply Chain Management, Human Resources, Organizational Design |
| 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