Westling, H (1991) Technology procurement for innovation in Swedish construction. TaknDr thesis, Kungliga Tekniska Hogskolan, Sweden.
Abstract
Major quality problems have occurred in the Swedish construction sector during the last decades simultaneously with high increases in construction costs. Innovation and the mastering of these problems are important and will become even more so when Sweden becomes a member of the European Community with ensuing increased competition. The technology procurement concept is an instrument on the demand side with the purpose of promoting innovation. Analyses are made of five case studies where technology procurement has been used, viz. Lifts for existing buildings, Rational refurbishment of bathrooms, Energy-efficient sport halls, Electricity-efficient household appliances and Renovation of water and sewerage pipes. The cases are analyzed as regards objectives, organization, control instruments, interaction/networks and user involvement. In comparison with other sectors, the two latter issues have been of great importance for the achievement of successful innovations. Several of the projects analyzed show good results with better functioning solutions, very rapid work and extensive reductions in costs and energy consumption (up to 40 per cent). The case studies also point at the importance of long-term engagements and conditions in order to obtain a diffusion of the results. Comparisons are made with some well-known technical projects which were the result of contests and challenges--chronometers, locomotives and space projects. In an international outlook comparisons are made with some projects and programs mainly in the USA and France. Preliminary characteristics of projects suitable for technology procurement include concrete goal setting, societal needs, functional requirements, top-level support, lead user involvement and dedicated project teams. Besides other technology procurement projects which may constitute a basis for a thorough evaluation of the characteristics, suggestions for further research in the construction sector are: studies of innovation and the procurement policy in Japan, impact of different control instruments, functional contracts, use of LCC techniques, forms of cooperation between leading owners and government organizations as well as different actors in the construction sector.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | France; Japan; Sweden; case studies; competition; energy consumption; government; innovation; policy; refurbishment; renovation |
| Index terms: | program, competition, cooperation, construction sector, France, procurement policy, Japan, renovation, household, energy consumption, interaction, project team, case study, owner, construction cost, Sweden |
| Subjects: | Geography, demography, market analysis, behavioral psychology, public policy, psychology, software systems, renovation and retrofit, sociology, industry analysis, data collection methods, financial and cost management, project delivery, energy systems |
| Topics: | Governance, Stakeholder Management, Research Practice, Cost Management, Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Urban Studies, Sustainability, Engineering Principles, Geographical Context, Project Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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