This document discusses innovation in the construction industry. It notes that the construction industry employs over 2 million people and accounts for 8.7% of the UK's gross value added. Innovation in construction involves introducing new technologies, products, processes, and ways of thinking to improve efficiency and solve problems. The document states that strategic decisions by company directors and cooperation across supply chains can encourage innovation, as can considering sustainability and environmental factors. Some specific sustainable innovations mentioned include green building designs, more efficient homes, and use of materials like insulation and engineered wood beams.

1. INNOVATION
PART 2
helpdesk@construction-productivity.co.uk
htt://www.construction-
productivity.co.uk

2. INNOVATION
 There are over 270,000 enterprises active
in the construction industry’
 employing over 2 million people;
 construction accounts for 8.7% of national
gross value added;
 Its economic importance is wider than
that.

3. INNOVATION
 well managed and successfully delivered
construction projects can improve the
delivery of public services.
 Health
 Education
 Transport
 It improves standards of living.

4. INNOVATION
 Innovation in construction is considered
to be ‘the act of introducing and using
new ideas such as:
 Technologies;
 Products and/or processes aimed at
solving problems;
 Viewing related matters differently;
 Improving efficiency and effectiveness.

5. INNOVATION
 Due to immobility of the final product, the
construction work happens on site.
 The advantages of automated products
being applied as in other industries, is
rarely possible.

6. INNOVATION
Organisational strategy
 Innovation does not come without a
strong commitment by the companies
director.
 Construction firms can deliberately and
actively take strategic decisions to
exhaust all possible avenues for
competitive advantage.

7. INNOVATION
 These strategic decisions can be made
internally or through cooperative
arrangements with other firms,
 for example supply chain,
 shearing information between clients,
suppliers, and similar businesses can be
useful.
 This shearing information can lead to
innovation.

8. INNOVATION
Leadership
 Businesses have the power to ensure quick and
flexible decision-making that can aid innovation.
 But the strong role of the owner in medium and
small construction firms can also constrain
innovation.
 owner of a firm should have necessary vision and
systemic thinking when diagnosing and progressing
innovation activity.

9. INNOVATION
 The decision for a big push towards
innovation in one part of the business,
 This decision often has significant
implications for other parts of the business.
 These Important factors need to be
considered.
 They must be brought together in an
integrated way before committing to any
innovation process.

10. INNOVATION
Sustainability
 There is increasing pressure on the construction
industry to become more environmentally
sustainable.
 Construction industry is a major energy user.
 as well as contributor to greenhouse gas emissions
 and waste levels
 The UK government is pushing hard to make the
construction sector more environmentally friendly
body.

11. INNOVATION
 Sustainable construction is a strategy
implemented by the government in 2000.
 The aim is to make the construction industry
more sustainable.
 This can be achieved by considering the
requirements of stakeholders.
 The natural environment, and energy
consumption are also pillars of Sustainable
construction.

12. INNOVATION
 At the same ensuring that the industry stays
profitable and competitive.
 It can be argued that sustainability is starting
to take its place alongside of other issues
such as:
 Efficiency
 Productivity
 Client needs

13. INNOVATION
 Some new sustainable innovations that have been
undertaken within the industry include:
 green smart-look for green street project
 design and construction of more efficient homes
 design and construction keyed to sustainable
practices
 orientation of buildings to maximize use of the
natural environment
 Use of solar passive principles to older buildings;

14. INNOVATION
 insulation
 use of suitable products
 environmentally aware surface-water
management
 use of plastic down pipes and tanks to save
water on site
 use of new engineered products such as
laminated veneer lumber beams
 use of polystyrene blocks as substitutes for
other materials.