Sergeeva, N and Liu, N (2020) Social construction of innovation and the role of innovation brokers in the construction sector. Construction Innovation, 20(2), pp. 247-259. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to re-visit social construction of technology (SCOT) framework in understanding of innovation in the construction sector and unpack the role of innovation brokers in this context. Design/methodology/approach: This is a conceptual paper adopting SCOT framework to understand innovation in the context of the construction sector. The role of innovation brokers is unpacked in the paper, currently under-explored in the construction innovation studies. Findings: The authors suggest SCOT framework as a useful overarching frame through which to understand construction innovation. The authors argue that innovation brokers should be positioned to oversee the interface of multiple social groups. Research limitations/implications: Further empirical research is proposed to test the theoretical assumptions outlined in the paper. The research agenda is to conduct further empirical research adopting a socio-technical theoretical lens and appropriate qualitative or mixed-design methodologies. There are other socio-technical theoretical frameworks that could be used to explore socio-technical interactions in different ways, e.g. socio-technical systems theory, sociomateriality, actor-network theory, etc. Practical implications: Three propositions are developed regarding the position of an innovation broker from the perspectives of multi-social-groups interfaces, shifting significance of the roles of innovation broker and the collaboration with government. Originality/value: The authors outline the value of SCOT framework for innovation study within project-based construction sector. The authors contribute to better understanding of the role of innovation brokers in the system of construction innovation.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction management; innovation; innovation broker; social construction of technology; social constructivism; system |
| Index terms: | broker, research agenda, sociomateriality, socio-technical system, collaboration, methodology, construction innovation, construction sector, socio-technical, social construction of technology, social construction, interaction |
| Subjects: | industry analysis, behavioral psychology, research management, sociology, building construction, social theory, theoretical framing, management, research methods, profession |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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