Student observations of technical innovation in an Australian construction company

Technical innovations in the construction industry shape both the present and the future development of the industry. Technical innovation can be described as the application of knowledge about tools, materials, processes, and techniques to problem solving. Innovation thus combines the science of discovery and the process of change delivery. Innovation can lead to the creation of social and economic value. It also enables a competitive advantage for the companies who make it their method of operation. A systematic study was undertaken to observe, assess and evaluate technological innovation examples within one construction company. Through the examination of the deployment of specific innovations including Building Information Modelling (BIM) in project delivery, central electronic record keeping and digital construction scheduling, this study examines how various technical changes have impacted project delivery. This observational study provides an evaluation of what makes these practices successful. Innovation is a continuous and ever-changing process. Successful companies constantly make changes to products and processes, collecting new knowledge, which demonstrates the importance of innovation to society. The result is not only a simple numerical improvement in one area, but a geometric progression involving and effecting the outcome of several related areas in a synergistic manner. Clear efficiency gains were observed in the subject company.