Innovation barriers at the project level : study of a UK construction firm

To meet today's accommodation needs, financial protocols and environmental aspirations, the construction industry is under great pressure to innovate. However, this industry is still fraught with criticisms for its low level of innovation. Numerous inhibitors are responsible for this poor reputation. This study is aimed at identifying the major barriers for innovation in the UK construction industry. A range of postulated inhibitors, as summarized from a literature review, were formulated into a questionnaire survey which was sent out to contractors in the UK. The barriers were ranked by the use of the 'relative index ranking technique' and the correlations between the inhibitors were evaluated. It was found that client-industry relationship, procurement, organizational culture, organization management are the major barriers to innovation as perceived at the project level, with varying level of correlations amongst them. More efficient innovation transfer may result if contractors and decision makers address these underlying barriers while managing innovation activities.