Klitgaard, A; Beck, F; Andersen, M; Jeppesen, R D; Nissen, S B and Buhl, H (2017) Towards the use of knotworking for increasing innovation in construction projects. In: Chan, P W and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 33rd Annual ARCOM Conference, 4-6 September 2017, Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, UK.
Abstract
Knotworking is an emerging collaboration form in the built environment, which promises to minimise the fragmentation of the industry. In an EU project, knotworking type workshops will be held for the involved organizations to optimize the design-build- and maintain processes in actual building projects. The workshops will be facilitated and monitored by researchers, who will continuously record learning from the events. The present research is the first part of this process.Specific recommendations of how to facilitate the innovative processes during the workshops need to be developed. Previous studies have focused on the knotworking process, rather than how to ensure performance during the workshops.Activity Theory is used to describe the inter-organizational network, which generates an understanding of the complexity of the analysed environment. The expansive learning circle from Activity Theory reveals that tensions created by contradictions in the activity systems mark the possibility for learning and innovation opportunities.Facilitation of innovation in inter-organizational network begins with an understanding of when an innovative process is emerging. A hypothetical recommendation for facilitation of inter-organizational network is having knowledge of the importance of tensions; having the skills to identify the tensions, and having the competence to turn the tensions into the beginning of an innovative learning process.The fragmentation of the construction industry is lessened by knotworking. However, due to the fragmentation of the industry, the organizations' expertise in collaboration varies from project to project so facilitation of the knotworking processes is required. The recommendation of identifying tensions and acting on them will be tested during the EU project in the middle of 2017. It will contribute to further understanding of innovative learning processes based on Activity Theory and suggest new perspectives on collaboration processes within this theory. Unfortunately, the data collection is not within the timeframe for this conference.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | activity theory; facilitation; inter-organizational; knotworking |
| Index terms: | conference, fragmentation, activity theory, workshop, complexity, construction industry, built environment, construction project, collaboration, competence |
| Subjects: | business, research dissemination and communication, construction type, personnel development, production management, management, theoretical framing, systems engineering, industry analysis, infrastructure and transport systems |
| Topics: | Human Resources, Urban Studies, Organizational Design, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Research Practice, Construction Technology |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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