Key Success Factors Impacting the Success of Innovation in UAE Construction Projects

Abstract

Purpose Several Former researches has been concerned with the Innovation concept, however, to the extent of authors knowledge, there are less literature concerned the application of Innovation concept in construction projects in United Arab of Emirates, with a clear identification of the exact role of each member of the participants in UAE innovation process, The purpose of this research is to investigate and identify the critical factors which influence and enable innovation in UAE construction projects. Also, identify responsible party for each factor application. Design/methodology/approach The research took form of qualitative approach first, which rely on critical analysis of relevant literatures focused on innovation in construction projects and similar industries, either in UAE or similar Contexts, which have been found to be applicable in UAE construction projects, aiming to identify the critical factors influencing the innovation in construction industry in UAE, and extend the research to classify the ownership of each factor among all parties involved in the process. Then, the findings have been examined using the quantitative approach though a designed survey to validate the finding and measure the Impact of each factor on the success of UAE innovative construction projects, as well as the correlation and regression between the different identified factors with each other. Findings According to the study results, three major players has been identified as a main influencer to the innovation process in UAE construction project which are: Government, R&D institutions & organizations. Also a set of ten factors categories has been identified as a critical for innovation success which are: Support of R&D investment, Commitment, Vision & Policies, advanced procurement systems, Leadership style, market oriented researches, Flexibility of experts’ movement, knowledge exchange, In-house testing facilities and Decentralized university system. Application of those ten factors categories found to be different base on the scope of each player of the three key players which resulted into thirty key success factors for innovation in UAE construction projects. Furthermore, the study identified the impact strength of each factors in order to identify the scope of each key player to focus and involve as a form of scope matrix. Also, types of innovation has been identified as the “technical innovation” and “organizational innovation”, the study result suggest that both of them required to be developed simultaneously in order to deliver the targeted “successful innovation in UAE construction project” Research limitations/implications The identified factors are considered as a main factors but not an all-inclusive list, further research may add more factors which might be directly or indirectly impact the innovation in UAE construction projects. Practical implications The concluded list of critical factors influencing the innovation in UAE construction projects with its scope demarcation matrix will help the major players involved in innovation process to recognize the contribution expected from each, and then can be considered as a base for any socio-economic initiatives can be introduced in present of near future to support the process of innovation in UAE construction projects. Originality/value The study generate its value through integration of partial knowledge gained by previous various study into a comprehensive focused analysis on the innovation in construction projects in the country of UAE, which to extent of authors knowledge, never been discussed that precisely before.