Applicability and benefits of the ecosystem concept in the construction industry

Wood Material Science & Engineering

Miilumäki

Vihemäki

et al. 2019

Increasing societal interest towards sustainable and low-carbon materials contributes to demand for wood-based materials and modern solutions for urban construction. Wooden multi-storey construction (WMC), however, is a relatively new phenomenon in the construction business, and collaborative business models in projects that adopt such novel building techniques are yet to develop. Shared logic is a key concept shaping the development of well-functioning business ecosystems, even though actor priorities may vary between the WMC business ecosystem members. This study examines the applicability of business ecosystem concept based on actor perception involved in three Finnish WMC projects. The results suggest that elements from the business ecosystem thinking can be identified in all the cases. Moreover, network collaboration created benefits to the ecosystem, such as reference value and new insights from research and development. For some companies, engagement in the business ecosystem created financial and employment benefits, while some interviewees perceived these projects also to create immaterial value, such as awareness on sustainability issues in their business, marketing gains, or in the form of mutual learning effects.

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collaboration and shared logic for creating value-added in three Finnish wooden multi-storey building projects

Wood Material Science & Engineering

Miilumäki

Vihemäki

et al. 2019

“…Construction sector is characterized by project-based and subcontracted businesses (Segerstedt and Olofsson 2010), which requires a good fit and coordination between interdependent and nonsimultaneous tasks implemented within strict timelines (Blayse and Manley 2004). Due to this, business networks and their ways of organizing project-based business processes are of fundamental importance in construction sector operations (Gann and Salter 2000), for example, by providing access to complementary resources and innovation platforms (Pulkka et al 2016). In the construction sector, the uptake of new building solutions has been found to be challenging despite their perceived benefits (e.g., Carter 1967, Holt 2013.…”

Section: Construction Sector As a Business Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Internal and external factors of competitiveness shaping the future of wooden multistory construction in Finland and Sweden

Construction Management and Economics

Sauru

Pätäri

et al. 2018

In transitioning to a renewable material-based bioeconomy, growing public and industry interest is apparent for using wooden multistorey construction (WMC) as a sustainable urban housing solution in Europe, but its business implications are not well understood. In our study, we evaluate, which internal and external factors of competitiveness are shaping the future of WMC, especially in the context of Finland and Sweden. Based on a multi-level perspective of socio-technical transitions, we conducted a three-stage dissensus-based Delphi study. The identified internal and external factors affecting the future competitiveness of the WMC business emphasize the importance of skilled architects and builders and the role of standardized building systems. Based on our results, the key aspects influencing the future competitiveness of WMC in the region are related to the development of technical infrastructure and project-based business networks, while additional changes in regulatory framework are perceived as less important. We conclude that towards 2030, the strong cognitive rules founded in the concrete-based building culture in these countries is likely to inhibit the dynamics of the socio-technical regime level. A change is also needed in the WMC business culture towards more open cross-sectoral collaboration and new business networks between differentsized players.

“…Future research is therefore required to elicit especially project level insights on actor values, norms and belief systems of the entire business ecosystem (e.g. Pulkka et al 2016), and should be targeted to other European countries in which forests and wood materials have scope in promoting implementation of the national bioeconomy strategies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability-Driven New Business Models in Wood Construction Towards 2030

World Sustainability Series

Autio

Sauru

et al. 2018

In the transition towards a renewable material based bioeconomy in Europe, there is growing interest in wooden multistory construction (WMC) as a sustainable housing solution. In this paper, the changing WMC business, and the involved value networks towards 2030, are analysed based on service business model literature and focusing also on consumer driven models. Methodologically the study uses a three round Delphi process focusing on Finland as a country where national bioeconomy strategy specifically acknowledges wood based construction. Based on our results, supporting bioeconomy strategy with the use of renewable materials and addressing indoor air quality concerns, seem to be primary reasons for the use of wood. This happens instead of enhancing intrinsic motivation towards sustainable bioeconomy as such. Therefore, transforming business models towards sustainability calls for strengthening positive image of wood construction industry especially among largely neglected stakeholder group, residents. In order to achieve business model development, the industry needs to strengthen orchestration of partner networks and capabilities, by including not only new co-creators as a part of actor-to-actor network, but also residents as end-users.