Barriers to implementation of construction innovation and measures of mitigating these barriers

Abstract: Emphasis on the importance of innovation within the construction industry to a larger extent has received an increased call. The need for the construction industry to facilitate technological innovations in order to maintain a competitive edge in the market lower Construction cost, improve quality, maximize productivity and meet the infrastructure need of the economy has been further emphasized. Realization of this increased importance of innovation will be nullified if the barriers to implementation of innovation are not understudied with provisions of stringent measures to mitigate the barriers to innovation. This exploratory paper analyses the barriers to implementation of construction innovation in the construction industry and likewise proposes measures of reducing the barriers to construction innovation. The research methodology includes extensive literature review supported with and random interviews. In all thirty (30) contractors, clients and construction association professionals were contacted via structured interviews to ascertain the existence and severity of the barriers. Findings from the study revealed that some of the barriers to construction innovation include: industry barriers, organizational barriers, legislative and regulatory barriers amongst others. It is recommended that effective collaboration within the construction sector and its stakeholders should be fostered in order to facilitate construction innovation as evidenced from other industries. Moreover, the formulation and cooperation of governmental and institutional policies which does not suppress construction companies must be established