Necessity of a disruptive change in the construction industry: analysis of problematic situation

The construction industry is going through a phase of stagnation. Its development clearly lacks behind other industries. Deficiencies are experienced that negatively affect the industry by diminishing its performance and outcomes. A comprehensive project is formulated in order to significantly devel...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor Principal: Grisales Pachón, Alejandro; Jacob, Jan Felix
Formato: Artículo (Article)
Lenguaje:Desconocido (Unknown)
Publicado: 2013
Materias:
Acceso en línea:http://babel.banrepcultural.org/cdm/ref/collection/p17054coll23/id/497
Descripción
Sumario:The construction industry is going through a phase of stagnation. Its development clearly lacks behind other industries. Deficiencies are experienced that negatively affect the industry by diminishing its performance and outcomes. A comprehensive project is formulated in order to significantly develop and evolve the construction industry. Four aspects are introduced as the main drivers for the successful completion of the project: definition of the problematic situation, relevant available innovations, operational implementation and the guidance towards an envisioned state of the industry. This paper summarizes the methodology and results of a master’s thesis that aimed to cope with the first of these drivers. The thesis was developed in the department of building realization and building robotics of the Technical University of Munich and is called “Restructuring of the Construction Industry for Increased Productivity, Enhanced Efficiency and Optimized Compatibility with the Dynamics of Innovation; Stage 1: Necessity of a Disruptive Change”. The problematic situation of the construction industry is analyzed through an industry overview, 3 case studies, a literature review and an international sample investigation. Findings reach to a classification of 17 existing root problems, which are ranked by their severity and categorized according to their characteristics. Results show that problems are homogeneous from an international perspective and that they are highly interlinked. Implications are deducted from the results and the drawbacks of traditional approaches are highlighted. Incremental changes are stated as convenient in general situations, but a disruptive change is recommended for the construction industry given the current state of the problematic situation within it.