Aouad, G F; Ozorhon, B and Abbott, C (2010) Facilitating innovation in construction: Directions and implications for research and policy. Construction Innovation, 10(4), pp. 374-394. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight for future innovation research activities and for the role of universities in working with industry to promote innovation. Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides an overview and synthesis of the literature on innovation and the role of universities. This is supported by interviews, case studies, and surveys within academic and industrial communities. Findings – The paper identifies that innovation, whether at an international, national, regional, firm or project level of analysis, continues to be at the forefront of the mind of policy makers and practitioners alike. Nevertheless, our understanding of innovation is far from complete. More research is required to study innovation at these different levels of resolution and at different points in the project life cycle. In order for the research base to play its part in promoting construction innovation, an engagement mechanism is required that brings together academia and industry in a way that recognises and responds to these multiple perspectives on innovation. Originality/value – The paper creates value by synthesising literature on construction innovation and highlights areas for further research. Based on this, a model for effective industry/university engagement is proposed.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction industry; innovation; research work; universities |
| Index terms: | survey, interview, construction innovation, practitioner, methodology, life cycle, case study, resolution, construction industry, academia |
| Subjects: | industry analysis, building construction, educational institutions, conflict resolution, research methods, value management, practitioner, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management, Education |
| 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