Innovation in infrastructure projects: an Australian perspective
Abstract
Purpose
Unlike manufacturing and research and developments, major infrastructure projects rarely emphasize or drive their objectives on the basis of innovation. This is in part because of a risk-averse culture, yet conceivably great benefits and opportunities are being lost because of this behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
The case for focusing on innovation in infrastructure projects is that the reasons driving innovation are not fully understood, and this impedes the effective implementation of lessons learned for the numerous innovative projects into practice more generally. The purpose of this study was to discover how innovation is produced and captured in major infrastructure projects in Australia and to understand how innovation may be replicated for future projects through refinement of design, project management, finance and procurement.
Findings
Engineering and project managers may find this paper helpful to better understand how innovation might happen in infrastructure projects and what different forms it can take.
Originality/value
The findings of this study demonstrate that people and culture drive consistent successful infrastructure outcomes more than simply the development of new products or processes.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The research described in the above paper was funded by The Department of Infrastructure and Transport of Australia. The authors wish to thank their support during the first phase of the research and ongoing contribution to the rest of the study. Also, the anonymous reviewers of the paper are appreciated for their invaluable comments and suggestions which enhanced the quality the final version of the paper.
Citation
Maghsoudi, S., Duffield, C. and Wilson, D. (2016), "Innovation in infrastructure projects: an Australian perspective", International Journal of Innovation Science, Vol. 8 No. 2, pp. 113-132. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIS-06-2016-008
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited