Revaluing construction: A holistic model

How can progressive and significant change in the construction industry be achieved at a national policy level? Based on a series of international structured workshops of major stakeholders in five countries and further analysis, the connections between the driving/restraining forces to progress and the available actions are pinpointed. Stakeholders with the power to create momentum for change are identified and a general sequence of events is suggested that could progressively achieve significant progress. The analysis presented stresses the huge scope of construction at approximately 20% of gross domestic product (when the use or occupancy phase is included), the importance, but difficulty, of creating a consensual national vision, the potential of 'covenantal' as well as contractual relationships, together with the (currently) wasted opportunity to use information and knowledge progressively throughout the building life cycle. Longer-term implications for client-orientated training and education are introduced, together with the imperative of understanding and promoting the multiple, short- and long-term contributions that flow from construction. An over-arching 'infinity' model is presented with two distinctive features: it is broadly conceptualized towards root causes and the dependence of each area on others is highlighted. As such, it seeks to place familiar subjects in a new challenging context and, in particular, the dynamic linkage is stressed between (internal) industry improvement and the perceived (external) societal value of this contribution.