Construction Innovation

Construction Innovation
Author: Finn Orstavik
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 224
Release: 2015-01-20
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1118655591

Construction innovation is an important but contested concept, both in industry practice and academic reflection and research. A fundamental reason for this is the nature of the construction industry itself: the industry and the value creation activities taking place there are multi-disciplinary, heterogeneous, distributed and often fragmented. This book takes a new approach to construction innovation, revealing different perspectives, set in a broader context. It coalesces multiple theoretical and practice-based views in order to stimulate reflection and to prepare the ground for further synthesis. By being clear, cogent and unambiguous on the most basic definitions, it can mobilise a plurality of perspectives on innovation to promote fresh thinking on how it can be studied, enabled, measured, and propagated across the industry. This book does not gloss over the real-life complexity of construction innovation. Instead, its authors look explicitly at the challenges that conceptual issues entail and by making their own position clear, they open up fresh intellectual space for reflection. Construction Innovation examines innovation from different positions and through different conceptual lenses to reveal the richness that the theoretical perspectives offer to our understanding of the way that the construction sector actors innovate at both project and organizational levels. The editors have brought together here leading scholars to deconstruct the concept of innovation and to discuss the merits of different perspectives, their commonalities and their diversity. The result is an invaluable sourcebook for those studying and leading innovation in the design, the building and the maintenance of our built environment.

10th Symposium Construction Innovation and Global Competitiveness

10th Symposium Construction Innovation and Global Competitiveness
Author: Ben Obinero Uwakwhe
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 1510
Release: 2002-09-23
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1420040103

This two-volume set comprises the proceedings of the 2002 symposium concerned with innovation in the construction industry and global competition. Approximately 115 papers address topics ranging from business improvement to the impact of innovation on the built environment; and globalization and competitiveness.

Construction Innovation

Construction Innovation
Author: Finn Orstavik
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 224
Release: 2015-04-20
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1118655532

Construction innovation is an important but contested concept, both in industry practice and academic reflection and research. A fundamental reason for this is the nature of the construction industry itself: the industry and the value creation activities taking place there are multi-disciplinary, heterogeneous, distributed and often fragmented. This book takes a new approach to construction innovation, revealing different perspectives, set in a broader context. It coalesces multiple theoretical and practice-based views in order to stimulate reflection and to prepare the ground for further synthesis. By being clear, cogent and unambiguous on the most basic definitions, it can mobilise a plurality of perspectives on innovation to promote fresh thinking on how it can be studied, enabled, measured, and propagated across the industry. This book does not gloss over the real-life complexity of construction innovation. Instead, its authors look explicitly at the challenges that conceptual issues entail and by making their own position clear, they open up fresh intellectual space for reflection. Construction Innovation examines innovation from different positions and through different conceptual lenses to reveal the richness that the theoretical perspectives offer to our understanding of the way that the construction sector actors innovate at both project and organizational levels. The editors have brought together here leading scholars to deconstruct the concept of innovation and to discuss the merits of different perspectives, their commonalities and their diversity. The result is an invaluable sourcebook for those studying and leading innovation in the design, the building and the maintenance of our built environment.

Construction Innovation and Process Improvement

Construction Innovation and Process Improvement
Author: Akintola Akintoye
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 457
Release: 2012-04-30
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1405156481

Innovation in construction is essential for growth. The industry strives to remain competitive using a variety of approaches and needs to engage structured initiatives linked to proven innovation concepts, techniques and applications. Even in mature markets like the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector, where business behaviour is generally considered as being risk averse, it is increasingly important to embed innovation into mainstream business practices. In Construction Innovation and Process Improvement a number of wide ranging issues from construction practice in different countries with different contexts are presented to provide a rich collection of literature embracing theory and practice. Chapters are divided into three broad themes of construction innovation relating to: Theory and Practice; Process Drivers; and Future Technologies. Several questions are posed, including for example: What is particularly unique about construction innovation in theory and practice? What are the major drivers of construction innovation? What factors are needed to support and deliver future construction technologies? In attempting to respond to such questions, the book sheds new light on these challenges, and provides readers with a number of ways forward, especially cognisant of the increased role of globalisation, the enhanced impact of knowledge, and importance of innovation. All these can have a significant impact on strategic decision-making, competitive advantage, and sustainable policies and practices. Part One deals with change management, technology, sustainable construction, and supply chain management; Part Two addresses innovation and process improvement drivers, including strategic management, concurrent engineering, risk management, innovative procurement, knowledge management; Part Three explores future technologies in construction – and particularly, how these can be harnessed and leveraged to help procure innovation and process improvement.

Moving to Sustainable Buildings:

Moving to Sustainable Buildings:
Author: Umberto Berardi
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter
Total Pages: 190
Release: 2013-11-07
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 8376560115

In his Moving to Sustainable Buildings. Paths to Adopt Green Innovations in Developed Countries, Umberto Berardi explores the transition of the construction sector to sustainable building through the adoption of green innovations. Applying methods ranging from theoretical discussions to interviews and field studies, Berardi describes how organisational models among stakeholders are changing as the sector moves towards a green economy. Berardi’s book should prove valuable to engineers, architects, environment researchers and policy makers alike, as it successfully weaves together different aspects of green building to create a multidimensional matrix through which sustainable architecture can be understood. Umberto Berardi, an assistant professor at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA, USA), teaches courses on sustainable construction, architectural engineering systems and building physics. He was awarded an MSc from the Politecnico di Bari, an MSc from the University of Southampton (UK) and a PhD from the Scuola Interpolitecnica in Italy. His research areas are related to building acoustics, sustainable constructions and energy saving technologies for buildings. Berardi is also a passionate pianist and a strong proponent of interdisciplinary cooperation between the arts and engineering.

Engineering and Construction for Sustainable Development in the 21st Century

Engineering and Construction for Sustainable Development in the 21st Century
Author: Civil Engineering Research Foundation
Publisher: ASCE Publications
Total Pages: 168
Release: 1995-01-01
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9780784473979

Prepared by the Civil Engineering Research Foundation. This report identifies key engineering research and construction issues for the 21st century that support sustainable development. The report reflects the findings of a two-phase Delphi survey involving construction industry experts from more than 20 countries and was prepared to provide the technical context for an international research symposium that will be hosted by the Civil Engineering Research Foundation in Washington, D.C., on February 4-8, 1996. The intended audience includes worldwide representatives from government, academia and business involved in engineering and construction research. The report is organized around five focus areas: Management and Business Practices, Design Technology and Practices, Construction and Equipment, Materials and Systems, and Public and Government Policy. A team of international experts from engineering and construction disciplines author the five papers comprising this report. Each paper covers research needs and barriers to implementation of new technologies and practices. The papers explore opportunities for international cooperation, present case studies of successful research efforts and offer preliminary recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of research in their respective areas. The papers are preceded by an introduction that address the conceptual links among the papers within the context of sustainable development.

Handbook of Construction Management

Handbook of Construction Management
Author: Abdul Razzak Rumane
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 857
Release: 2016-08-05
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1482226650

The book is developed to provide significant information and guidelines to construction and project management professionals (owners, designers, consultants, construction managers, project managers, supervisors, contractors, builders, developers, and many others from the construction-related industry) involved in construction projects (mainly civil construction projects, commercial-A/E projects) and construction-related industries. It covers the importance of construction management principles, procedures, concepts, methods, and tools, and their applications to various activities/components/subsystems of different phases of the life cycle of a construction project. These applications will improve the construction process in order to conveniently manage the project and make the project most qualitative, competitive, and economical. It also discuss the interaction and/or combination among some of the activities/elements of management functions, management processes, and their effective implementation and applications that are essential throughout the life cycle of project to conveniently manage the project. This handbook will: Focus on the construction management system to manage construction projects Include a number of figures and tables which will enhance reader comprehension Provide all related topics/areas of construction management Be of interest to all those involved in construction management and project management Provide information about Building Information Modeling (BIM), and ISO Certification in Construction Industry Offer a chapter on Lean construction The construction project life cycle phases and its activities/elements/subsystems are comprehensively developed and take into consideration Henri Fayol's Management Function concept which was subsequently modified by Koontz and O'Donnel and Management Processes Knowledge Areas described in PMBOK® published by Project Management Institute (PMI). The information available in the book will also prove valuable for academics/instructors to provide construction management/project management students with in-depth knowledge and guidelines followed in the construction projects and familiarize them with construction management practices.

Administrative System Innovation and Building a Public Service-Oriented Government

Administrative System Innovation and Building a Public Service-Oriented Government
Author: Marc Holzer
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Total Pages: 331
Release: 2019-11-15
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1527543587

From the late 1970s until the present day, the New Public Management movement flourished in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia and a number of other countries over the globe. Nowadays, governments across the world are more service-oriented than previously, and administrative system innovations are encouraging new ways of improving public services. Increasingly, more and more countries are witnessing administrative innovations to provide better, quicker, and more efficient and effective service to the public. To this end, this collection of essays highlights public service theory and practices. While some chapters concentrate on innovation in administrative systems, others pay attention to more theoretic and practical issues. A few examine municipal-level public service and innovation, whereas others focus on environment, community policing, public infrastructure, partnership governance, and e-service and e-participation, as well as citizen participation. The book represents an excellent, updated resource for scholars, students and practitioners in the broad field of public administration, public policy, public affairs and public management.

Innovation, Strategy and Risk in Construction

Innovation, Strategy and Risk in Construction
Author: Martin Loosemore
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 286
Release: 2013-12-04
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1136673555

1. Serendipity and innovation -- 2. The innovation process -- 3. Innovation in construction -- 4. The history and future of innovation in the construction industry -- 5. Strategy and innovation -- 6. Organizing for innovation -- 7. Managing the risks of innovation -- 8. Conclusion : we need a reality-check.