Construction Innovation: Fifth Generation Perspective

Abstract

AbstractDespite what many researchers, governments, and commentators say, there is a considerable amount of innovation that occurs in the construction industry. Negative opinions of construction innovation are often misinformed by data and methodologies designed to measure innovation in other sectors and by a misunderstanding of the realities of innovation in the construction industry. A theoretical model of innovation in construction is developed on the basis of fifth-generation innovation research. Through interviews with 58 thought leaders from across the Australian and United Kingdom construction industries, this model is contrasted with what happens in practice to refine a model of innovation that can form the conceptual basis for future research. The findings support but also contrast many aspects of the mainstream innovation literature around fifth-generation innovation. In particular, ideas around systemizing innovation do not sit comfortably with the way that innovation happens in practice in the...