Oti-Sarpong, K and Burgess, G (2020) Offsite manufacturing and construction industry transformation: A multi-level sociotechnical transitions perspective. In: Scott, L and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 36th Annual ARCOM Conference, 7-8 September 2020, Online Event, UK.
Abstract
Offsite manufacturing (OSM) is being promoted for construction project delivery by the UK government as part of industry transformation initiatives. OSM is considered a modern method of construction which, if widely adopted, can boost innovation in construction. Despite its espoused benefits, OSM is yet to become mainstream. This situation is attributed to factors including lack of client demand, investor reluctance due to lack of evidence for the value of OSM and (inter)organizational inertia in transitioning to new business models. Reasons holding back uptake have been examined from perspectives that fail to capture the multiple layers and facets of the construction industry and how their interdependencies impact the envisioned transformation. This paper highlights how the overall change agenda through a wide-scale adoption of OSM can be better understood using the multi-level sociotechnical transitions theoretical lens. Adoption of OSM in the UK is currently limited to discrete attempts at organisational and project (niche) levels. These are yet to accumulate adequate momentum to change the existing preferred way the construction industry works (technological regime). Technological transitions rarely result from a sudden shift from one regime to another. Realizing any meaningful transformation requires the co-evolution of, inter alia, existing regulations, institutions, market configurations, societal preferences, user practices, technologies and policy (sociotechnical regime). A gradual amalgamation of the sociotechnical developments and alignment with a 'niche cumulation' is key to triggering the desired 'step changes' that would facilitate an industry-wide adoption of OSM. Understanding these interdependent changes underscores the need for more comprehensive approaches in exploring the inhibitors to industry-wide uptake of OSM and highlights how improvements could be achieved through well-coordinated initiatives. The insights have implications for approaches adopted by governments to promote industry-wide OSM adoption and use.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | industry transformation; multi-level perspective; offsite manufacturing; sociotechnical transitions. |
| Index terms: | transformation, business model, regulation, preference, technological regime, evolution, investor, evidence, construction project delivery, configuration, step-change, construction industry, industry transformation |
| Subjects: | business, innovation and technology management, political science, evaluation and assessment methods, organization, systems engineering, project controls, innovation studies, sociology, industry analysis, environmental science, decision-making and reasoning |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Stakeholder Management, Sustainability, Engineering Principles, Time Control, Governance, Business Strategy |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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