Environmentally driven technical innovation by Australian construction SMEs

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether technical innovations by construction industry small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with an environmental focus, require any specific circumstances for successful marketplace delivery. Design/methodology/approach -A value tree of significant factors was developed from a literature review. This was tested by a survey of established technical innovators within SMEs in the area of Sydney and environs, using analytic hierarchy process methodology. Findings -The regulatory environment was demonstrated to be much more important to environmental innovators than to others. Conversely the influence of clients and end users was less significant for the environmentally focused innovators.Research limitations/implications -The sample size was necessarily small because the subjects were all peer recognised technical innovators. Analysis of variance was used to identify significant differences between environmentally focused and other innovations among the survey respondents. Social implications -Performance-based standards were seen to be significant enablers for environmentally focused innovation delivery. A degree of flexibility in building regulations may be crucial to innovation delivery by SMEs. Originality/value -The paper stresses the importance for regulators of reaching an understanding of the restrictions that prescriptive standards may put of those seeking to improve the environmental performance of the construction industry.

Capabilities-Based Forecasting Model for Innovation Development in Small-and-Medium Construction Firms (Smcfs)

“…(1) shows that the engagement in both technological innovations (TI) and organizational innovations (OI) makes it important for SMCFs to achieve superior performance. This finding extends the essence of prior works that ubiquitously centre on the technological enhancements Manley 2008;Hardie et al 2013). Table 5 shows that the new offerings engaged by SMCFs do not base solely on a product-and-process viewpoint, but also from a managerial-and-marketing prospect.…”

“…The implementation of technological innovation by small firms not necessarily needed any on-going relationships with universities or research bodies (Hardie, Manley 2008). Furthermore, it was evident that the reports identifying the effect of network capability were subject to the biased preference towards qualitative-based analysis of innovative offerings Hardie, Manley 2008;Hardie et al 2013). Hence, the present study conjectured that inter-organizational networks permit SMCFs to draw on resources beyond the firms' boundaries to innovate across a wider range of activities.…”

“…In spite of the rich resources embedded in the networks, firms must have the necessary capability to exploit and turn the resources out into innovation (Lu, Sexton 2006). Networks enhanced small construction firms' access to social resources necessary to engender innovation activities (Hardie et al 2013). According to work of Gronum et al (2012), both the breadth and depth of inter-organizational networks could lead to innovation outcomes.…”

“…In reviewing the SME literature, it was important to note that the works on innovation had mainly rooted on technological products or process innovations (Manley 2008;Rezgui, Miles 2010;Hardie et al 2013). This might be attributed to the increasing complexity of construction projects and globalised competition among firms in the industry (Tatum, Funke 1988).…”

Creative Innovation in Spanish Construction Firms

“…41 Some would say that innovation is a trend, as was quality or environmental management An adequate regulatory environment can help to enhance innovation (Hardie et al 2014). …”