SR406 Adopting new ways in the building and construction industry (February 2020)

This project explores the human factors behind the industry’s willingness or otherwise to adopt new practices, even when there is clear evidence of potential advantages to them in doing so. It is a study of behaviour, attitudes and beliefs, as well as a study of systems that prevent or enable change.

The research is based on an understanding that there are improved ways of doing things available to the building and construction sector in New Zealand. The question explored is why some of these new ways are either not being adopted or only on a small scale, when large-scale adoption would make a difference to productivity and quality.

This is important research, as identification of new practices and solutions to improve productivity and eliminate quality issues will have no impact if those solutions are not adopted by industry.