People Centered Innovation: Enabling Lean Integrated Project Delivery and Disrupting the Construction Industry for a More Sustainable Future

Abstract

People-centered innovation is a paradigm shift in the construction industry. It is derived from the supposition that people not methods, schedules, or budgets deliver projects. Our data suggest that a multilevel, multidisciplinary project team through shared vision, values, and a common vernacular defines, designs, and delivers more successful projects than traditional methods. These projects meet the needs of shareholders, the community, stakeholders, and the planet. We employ the concepts of emotional intelligence and agency theory to explain an integrated project delivery (IPD) construction project using lean tactics that not only delivered, but also exceeded expectations resulting in a six-month schedule acceleration and $60M savings over the original estimated cost of the project calculated assuming traditional project delivery methods. The safety rating for this project was 50% better than the national average and the expected improvement in operating margin for the new building is 33% greater. This paper introduces the notion of people-centered innovation to an industry that has struggled to adapt and show positive results over recent decades. Our case study describes the significance of people-centered innovation in construction project delivery. We discuss the implications for the construction industry going forward.

Critical Review of the Evolution of Project Delivery Methods in the Construction Industry

“…In other words, PDM 4.0 represents features of a project delivery method that answer the demands of the modern construction industry. This version constitutes of digitally integrated, people-centered innovation and sustainability-focused delivery methods [64,65].…”

Collaborative Project Delivery Methods: A Scoping Review

“…Sun et al (2015) identified how communication behaviours in inter-organisational teams affect innovation. Paolillo et al (2016) explored the procedural and social elements of a large commercial construction project utilising people-centred innovation (PCI). Pishdad-Bozorgi and Beliveau (2016b) analysed the relationship between trust and IPD and offers analysis on how trust-building attributes are supported and leveraged by IPD (Pishdad-Bozorgi & Beliveau, 2016a).…”

Relational Building Teams

“…Relational teams do not forsake contracts, but the methods for developing them and the demands of each party throughout the duration of the contract are different. "[T]eam cohesion" developed during the project definition phase "creates a relational climate of trust that is codified in the contractual requirements" (Paolillo et al 2016). Contracts that underpin relational teams consider the long-term implications of the project and its outcomes.…”

“…In a recently published study based on the Akron Children's Hospital project, the authors introduced the concept of upcycle construction capital (Paolillo et al 2016). Upcycle construction capital is defined as the collateral benefits produced by a building project over time.…”

“…For instance, traditional construction methods typically only involve building users at two points in the process. They are involved during requirement development at the very beginning of the project, and at occupancy, near the very end of the project (Paolillo et al 2016). The process is linear, product-focused, and transactionoriented.…”