Forman, T and Tweed, C (2014) Solid wall insulation retrofit in UK dwellings: Critical factors affecting management and quality. In: Raiden, A and Aboagye-Nimo, E (eds.) Proceedings of 30th Annual ARCOM Conference, 1-3 September 2014, Portsmouth, UK.
Abstract
Driven largely by government policy instruments, the UK solid wall insulation (SWI) industry today is experiencing explosive growth rates. This research explores critical factors in the industryÕs efforts to overcome a legacy of poor design and build quality in retrofit work. The research employs qualitative and ethnographic methods across a range of UK area-based retrofit projects and installer training programmes. It includes participant observation made while working in the role of SWI installer, and an extended study of a leading SWI installation company and its construction management processes. Findings identify patterns of Ôshort-termismÕ, financial pressure, limited technical understanding, and point to immature management practices as recurrent impediments to installation quality. The research argues that in the context of a social-technical-political environment which hinders attainment of quality, new approaches to management are needed in the SWI industry.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | retrofit; quality; policy; training; organisational culture |
| Index terms: | installer, government policy, management practice, organizational culture, design and build, observation, programme, critical factor, solid-wall insulation |
| Subjects: | public policy, contractual arrangements, data collection methods, risk assessment, practitioner, materials science, sociology, project controls, management |
| Topics: | Time Control, Organizational Design, Risk Management, Roles and Professions, Governance, Procurement, Business Strategy, Engineering Principles, Research Practice |
| 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