Bonham, M B (2013) Leading by example: New professionalism and the government client. Building Research & Information, 41(1), pp. 77-94. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
The capacity of government client bodies to lead other industry actors in the creation of a more sustainable built environment is assessed. A framework is introduced that records the legislation, guiding principles and policies influencing government clients towards new professional practices embracing dynamic interactions between people, process and technology. The framework is used to analyse case studies related to two US government client organizations: the General Services Administration (GSA) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The study finds that GSA and NREL are actively seeking innovation and influencing their consultants, contractors and other US government agencies through their policies and programmes, notably by piloting new professional practices associated with integrated project delivery and open communication. The initiatives and their effectiveness are further studied in a broader, international context of emerging best professional practices. Government clients are key agents for leading and motivating change, particularly through capacity-building in other professional services firms and contractors. Government clients can further expand their sphere of positive influence specifically in the assessment and integration of emerging technologies and in the extension of professional service contracts related to building performance and occupant engagement.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | built environment; client leadership; innovation; integrated project delivery; professional practice; sustainable construction |
| Index terms: | interaction, agent, professionalism, renewable energy, professional practice, integration, professional service, emerging technology, effectiveness, built environment, building performance, integrated project delivery, client organization, programme, laboratory, legislation, sustainable construction, case study, government agency |
| Subjects: | project controls, organizational analysis, research management, infrastructure and transport systems, administrative law, behavioral psychology, quality assurance, performance management, sustainable construction, professional development, contractual arrangements, energy systems, legal systems, innovation and technology management, data collection methods, client relations, organization, practitioner |
| Topics: | Legal Issues, Urban Studies, Digital Applications, Quality Management, Organizational Design, Time Control, Research Practice, Information Management, Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management, Procurement, Sustainability |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
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