Positioning and Priorities of Growth Management in Construction Industrialization: Chinese Firm-Level Empirical Research

Abstract

Abstract:The purpose of this research is to quantitatively evaluate the growth phase, position, and priorities of the industrialization policy management of the construction industry at firm level. The goal is to integrate quantitative dynamics into the policy-making process for sustainable policy development in future China. This research proposes an integrated framework, including growth management model and industrial policy evaluation method, to identify the challenges of construction industrialization and policy management. The research applies the mixed system method, which includes entropy method and average score method, to analyze the growth stage and major impact indexes targeting 327 survey samples. The empirical results show that the proposed conceptual framework and policy evaluation method could effectively determine the growth position and directions of the construction industrialization. For verification purpose, the study uses the local industry data from Shaanxi Province, China. The calculation results substantiate that the construction industry is in the middle section of the third growth phase. The comparison of the results from statistical methods shows that the local construction industry still needs substantial effort in policy management to improve its sustainable industrialization level. As countermeasures, the policy priorities should concentrate on: (1) enhancing effective cooperation among universities, research institutions and enterprises; (2) improving actions towards technology transfer into productivity; and (3) encouraging market acceptance of construction industrialization. This research complements the existing literature of policy evaluation of construction industrialization. Moreover, it provides theoretical and operational steps on industry policy evaluation and growth management framework, with accurate and ample data analysis on firm-level survey. Researchers and policy makers can use this research for further extensions of policy management for construction industrialization.

Exploring the Driving Factors of Construction Industrialization Development in China

“…Yunus and Yang [ 14 ] identified 18 sustainability factors, including time of construction, production, etc., which are critical for IB system implementation in Malaysia. Research conducted in China by Mao et al [ 1 ], Zhang et al [ 3 ], Zhang et al [ 9 ], and Tam et al [ 15 ] also echoed these results. Luo et al [ 11 ] also studied the risk factors affecting practitioners’ attitudes towards the adoption of CI in China.…”

“…By manufacturing the construction components in the factory and then assembling them in the construction site, the adoption of CI would help to save cost and time, improve quality, reduce the consumption of resource and the production of waste, increase labor efficiency to meet labor shortage, and offer a healthier and safer work environment for construction workers [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. The development of CI would also enhance the performance of construction projects of various types [ 4 , 8 ], therefore it is considered to be a critical approach for the upgrade of the conventional construction industry, especially for developing countries like China [ 1 , 3 , 6 , 9 , 10 ]. The implementation of CI has been listed as the top-level design for the development and modernization of construction industry by the Chinese government [ 1 , 3 , 9 , 10 ].…”

“…The development of CI would also enhance the performance of construction projects of various types [ 4 , 8 ], therefore it is considered to be a critical approach for the upgrade of the conventional construction industry, especially for developing countries like China [ 1 , 3 , 6 , 9 , 10 ]. The implementation of CI has been listed as the top-level design for the development and modernization of construction industry by the Chinese government [ 1 , 3 , 9 , 10 ].…”

Managing Growing Pains for the Sustainable Growth of Organizations: Evidence from the Growth Pathways and Strategic Choices of Korean Firms

“…Firms go through distinct stages of growth, and face different sets of internal and external environmental variables as they move from one stage to another [90]. The sustainable growth of firms involves successful transitions between growth stages through managing organizational growing pains and maintaining sustainable competitive positions [91].…”

“…If those types of transitions between growth stages are not made effectively, firms will experience growing pains, which have a significant impact on organizational effectiveness, efficiency, and success [14]. Different aspects of the transitions and growing pains that must be made over the entire life-cycles of firms help us identify the underlying factors that cause transition failures between growth stages [90,93]. Understanding the underlying determinants of growing pains and key developmental areas required for the successful transitions promote long-term success and ultimately result in sustainable corporate growth.…”