Gravitational slingshot analogy of discontinuous sustainability innovation in the construction industry

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the roles and dynamics of different institutional actors in the innovation process and to demonstrate how discontinuous sustainability innovation depends on the support of a group of actors wider than the innovating consortium. The paper explores how discontinuous sustainability innovation comes about in the construction industry. More specifically, it focuses on the understudied area of low-technology innovation. Design/methodology/approach - The paper reports the findings of a detailed longitudinal single case study. The case in question is the K3 houses initiative: the Finnish Cultural Foundation’s attempt to point out a low-technology path to energy-efficient detached houses. The empirical data consist of semi-structured interviews and extensive archival data. A visual mapping strategy is used to structure the qualitative case analysis. Findings - The paper reports two main findings. First, environmentally oriented regulation can sometimes hamper sustainability innovation by encouraging a lock-in into a technological trajectory that limits opportunities for discontinuous innovation. Second, an innovation-centric rather than a firm-centric approach to discontinuous innovation can benefit both firms managing and researchers studying innovation. Originality/value - The paper is one of the few discussing the potential of low-technology innovation in construction for sustainable development. The introduction of the concept of change-based momentum adds a novel dynamic element to the inter-organisational models of construction innovation. Its implications for discontinuous innovation are illustrated with a gravitational slingshot analogy.