Historical British antecedents of innovative construction project organisation and social structures

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to present examples of historical British antecedents of innovative construction procurement, project organisation and social structures, through an historical case study and highlight how contemporary innovative “newness” can sometimes be preceded by historical antecedents. Design/methodology/approach – This paper used informal analysis of extant literature and historical archives, to synthesise those antecedents presented and reflect on these in light of contemporary construction practice and innovation. Findings – The case study project, capturing the period c.1894-1904, demonstrates numerous historical but significant innovations relating to project organisation and social structures. The extent of these may result from more lax regulation and workplace controls of the time. The case also epitomises how a publicly accountable authority, can realise a high-quality, constructed product in good time, using direct labour and without recourse to competitive procurement. Research limitations/implications – The blending of historical construction research with contemporary construction innovation (CI) thinking may open new academic opportunities in both fields. Practical implications – The findings suggest that a less regulatory-constrained environment appears conducive to incremental and process-oriented CI activity. Originality/value – There is a dearth of construction history research; its application to CI is unique.