Abstract
Several theories and conceptual frameworks have been developed over the years to understand the processes, mechanisms and impacts related to innovation in the construction industry. Many challenges remain however, in its conceptualization, particularly in terms of identifying and understanding its components and how they are articulated. While innovation in the construction industry has led to new perspectives on how the industry designs, delivers and maintains the built environment, its implementation remains a considerable challenge for industry stakeholders. To reap its oft-promised benefits, companies need to identify and evaluate innovations that can be effectively deployed on their projects while understanding the scale and scope of their impact. As such, providing ways to fully understand the types of innovations and, potentially, their impact can help in guiding their implementation. The objective of the research presented in this paper was to develop a classification system for innovation in construction and to identify the characteristics of its different facets. Departing from the more traditional hierarchical view of innovation classification, a flatter, multi-facetted approach to classification is proposed. This approach is believed to be more representative of the multiple perspectives adopted in the literature to report these characteristics. The choice of class was dictated by its ease of application to industry and the complementary nature of the different facets. The classification of innovations focuses on 5 dimensions adapted from the literature review and chosen based on their applicability, which was tested through a survey. The classified objects can correspond to several facets and elements thanks to the faceted structure, making the classification more modular and expandable.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Afsari K, Eastman CM (2016) A comparison of construction classification systems used for classifying building product models. In: 52nd ASC annual international conference proceedings, 1–8
Blanco JL, Mullin A, Pandya K, Sridhar M (2017) The new age of engineering and construction technology. McKinsey & Company-Capital Projects & Infrastructure
Chowdhury T, Adafin J, Wilkinson S (2019) Review of digital technologies to improve productivity of New Zealand construction industry. J Information Technol Constr 24(2019VMAR):569–587. https://doi.org/10.36680/j.itcon.2019.032
Crossan MM, Apaydin M (2010) A Multi-dimensional framework of organizational innovation: a systematic review of the literature. J Manage Stud 47(6):1154–1191. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6486.2009.00880.x
Delarue C (2021) Étude sur l’état de lieux en matière d’usage des technologies en construction et leur impact.” École de technologie supérieure
Deloitte and Conseil du patronat du Québec (2016) Étude sur l’écosystème d’affaires de la construction au Québec. Accessed 8 Feb 2021. https://www.cpq.qc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/cpq-construction270516.pdf
Dodgson M, Gann D, Salter AJ (2005) Think, play, do: technology, innovation, and organization. Oxford University Press
Fergusson KJ (1993) Impact of integration on industrial facility quality, 84. Stanford University
Fettke P, Loos P (2003) Classification of reference models: a methodology and its application. IseB 1(1):35–53
Goodrum PM, Haas CT, Caldas C, Zhai D, Yeiser J, Homm D (2011) Model to predict the impact of a technology on construction productivity. J Constr Eng Manag 137(9):678–688. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000328
Huerdo Fernandez M, Dewez P (2019) Comparatif des systèmes de classification dans le cadre du BIM - Monographies CSTC. Centre Scientifique et Technique de la Construction. https://www.cstc.be/homepage/index.cfm?cat=publications&sub=search&id=REF00011847
Jung Y, Gibson GE (1999) Planning for computer integrated construction. J Comput Civ Eng 13(4):217–225. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0887-3801(1999)13:4(217)
Jung Y, Joo M (2011) Building Information Modelling (BIM) framework for practical implementation. Autom Constr, Build Inf Modeling Changing Constr Pract 20(2):126–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2010.09.010
Lim JN, Ofori G (2007) Classification of innovation for strategic decision making in construction businesses. Constr Manag Econ 25(9):963–978. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446190701393026
Loosemore M, Richard J (2015) Valuing innovation in construction and infrastructure: getting clients past a lowest price mentality. Eng Constr Archit Manag 22(1):38–53. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-02-2014-0031
Nasir H (2013) Best Productivity Practices Implementation Index (BPPII) for infrastructure projects. August. https://uwspace.uwaterloo.ca/handle/10012/7731
Noktehdan M, Shahbazpour M, Wilkinson S (2015) Driving innovative thinking in the New Zealand construction industry. Buildings 5(2):297–309. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings5020297
Noktehdan M, Shahbazpour M, Zare MR, Wilkinson S (2019) Innovation management and construction phases in infrastructure projects. J Constr Eng Manag 145(2):04018135. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001608
Ozorhon B, Oral K, Demirkesen S (2016) Investigating the components of innovation in construction projects. J Manag Eng 32(3):04015052. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000419
Reichstein T, Salter AJ, Gann DM (2005) Last among equals: a comparison of innovation in construction, services and manufacturing in the UK. Constr Manag Econ 23(6):631–644. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446190500126940
Slaughter ES (1998) Models of construction innovation. J Constr Eng Manag 124(3):226–231. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1998)124:3(226)
Tatum CB (1988) Classification system for construction technology. J Constr Eng Manag 114(3):344–363. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1988)114:3(344)
Wild PJ, Giess MD, McMahon CA (2009) Describing engineering documents with faceted approaches: observations and reflections. J Documentation 65(3):420–445. https://doi.org/10.1108/00220410910952410
Acknowledgements
This paper is produced bases on a research project in collaboration with the Association de la construction du Québec (ACQ) and the Association des constructeurs de routes et grands travaux du Québec (ACRGTQ). The work presented was partly financed by a grant from the organism Mitacs.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 Canadian Society for Civil Engineering
About this paper
Cite this paper
Delarue, C., Poirier, É.A., Forgues, D. (2023). A Faceted Classification System for Innovation in the Construction Industry. In: Walbridge, S., et al. Proceedings of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering Annual Conference 2021. CSCE 2021. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 247. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0968-9_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0968-9_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-19-0967-2
Online ISBN: 978-981-19-0968-9
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)