The construction industry is a significant component of many economies and typically contains a high proportion of small and medium enterprises. However, it is generally understood that this industry is fragmented, adversarial, not highly innovative and not quick to respond to change. At the same time, the industry is under pressure to continue to embrace new technologies and methods, and to adapt better to current and emerging global issues such as sustainability. In order to meet these challenges, firms in the industry need to understand the issues involved and manage their practices accordingly. This paper describes exploratory research into the role of innovative and environmentally sustainable design and construction practices in one group of construction firms, viz., smaller residential building firms in Queensland, Australia.
Sponsorship of the Cooperative Research Centre for Construction Innovation for this project, along with the assistance of Dr Michael Charles, Dr Karen Manley, Dr Kerrie Unsworth, the participating builders, and many other people, is gratefully acknowledged.