Architects’ perception of the innovativeness of the Swedish construction industry

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this paper is to enhance the understanding of architects’ perceptions of the propensity to adopt innovations in building construction. Design/methodology/approach Based on a theoretical underpinning of the multilevel perspective on socio-technical transitions, a web-based questionnaire (n = 412) was used to empirically investigate Swedish architects’ perceptions of innovativeness in the building construction industry. Specifically, the study looks at perceptions of the level of innovativeness (propensity to adopt innovations), relevant barriers to the adoption of innovations, the influence of different actors and ways of facilitating innovativeness. Findings Architects perceive a low level of innovativeness in the Swedish building construction industry because of a number of barriers of varying relevance. These barriers belong to interwoven regulative, normative and cognitive rules (i.e. institutions) that guide actor behaviour, which contribute to the path dependency of the industry. The site-specific nature of building construction, promotional activities from suppliers and the level of competition in the industry is perceived as being of little relevance. The findings suggest that a number of interventions are necessary to facilitate innovativeness of the Swedish construction industry. To change the lock-in mechanisms of the established cognitive and normative rules, regulative rules need to change as well. According to architects, contractors and construction clients are the most influential and therefore have the most power to change the rules associated with path dependency. Research limitations/implications The focus on a single construction professional in Sweden necessitates a discussion on these perceptions from the standpoint of other actors. Practical implications Architects perceive a need for change in the construction industry and suggest that changed regulative rules can help overcome path dependency and facilitate innovativeness. Considering the strong interrelatedness of the lock-in mechanisms that guide the actors of the industry, policies may be needed to encourage and support the establishment for more sustainable development. Originality/value A multilevel perspective is used to analyse the type of barriers to innovativeness that the architects perceive as relevant and how they contribute to the resistance to change and path dependency in the building construction sector.

Mainstreaming av passivhus : En studie av energieffektiva bostadshus i Sverige

“…This signal is important as a majority of building industry actors are unwilling to go beyond legal standards without additional policy pressure (Ryghaug & Sørensen 2009). Earlier Swedish research shows that strong policies are needed to encourage actors to develop sustainable buildings as the Swedish construction sector is strongly locked-in to traditional practices (Hemström et al 2017). If advocates of passive houses would have been stronger in the policy-making process, this would have been a key mainstreaming activity -a passive house standard established through law.…”

Review of digital technologies to improve productivity of New Zealand construction industry

“…to technology adoption by some authors (Ramilo and Embi, 2014;Skibniewski, 2014) which include (Cory and Bozell, 2001;Jones and Saad, 2003;O'Sullivan, 2002 Much of this research affirmed that technological advancement of the digital technologies has the potential to improve cost, quality and productivity significantly (Gambatese and Hallowell, 2011;Ramilo and Embi, 2014). However, some studies show that significant technical and organizational barriers exist, that impede the effective adoption of these technologies (Ozorhon et al, 2010;Ramilo and Embi, 2014;Hemstrom et al, 2017). A Malaysian industry-wide survey found risk and liability, high equipment cost, financial disincentives, inadequate R&D investment, lack of capable people, inadequate technology transfer, inflexible building codes and standards, and lack of governmental support as major challenges to new ideas (Civil Engineering Research Foundation, 1996;Romilo and Embi, 2014).…”

“…In Ozorhon et al's (2010) report, economic conditions and availability of financial resources are clearly seen as two top barriers to the adoption/implementation of innovative technology in the UK. Similarly, with architects' perception of the Swedish construction industry, Hemstrom et al (2017) indicated financial issues as barriers to the innovativeness of the industry. Thus, financial implications play a significant role in digital technology development.…”

“…Results from literature show that economic conditions (Ozorhon et al, 2010), high construction cost (Suprun and Stewart, 2015), and initial/project costs rather than life cycle costs (Hemstrom et al, 2017) are the top barriers. Whereas, researchers from Malaysia (Ramilo and Embi, 2014) identified the following barriers to the adoption of innovative technologies which would seem to relate with the experience of NZ innovators and construction companies: financial; technological; process; organizational; psychological; and governmental barriers that prevent the adoption of mature and cost-effective technologies.…”

Glulam in Architecture of Latvia and Lithuania

“…The number of the manufacturers of glulam was increasing worldwide [25] as well as in the Baltic countries [17], [18]. At the same time, the number of construction projects [15] using glulam was increasing and getting bigger, higher and more complex.…”