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Oti-Sarpong, K and Burgess, G (2020) Offsite Manufacturing and Construction Industry Transformation: A Multi-Level Sociotechnical Transitions Perspective. In: Scott, L and Neilson, C J (Eds.), Proceedings 36th Annual ARCOM Conference, 7-8 September 2020, UK, Association of Researchers in Construction Management, 475-484.
- Type: Conference Proceedings
- Keywords: Industry transformation, multi-level perspective, offsite manufacturing, sociotechnical transitions.
- ISBN/ISSN: 978-0-9955463-3-2
- URL: http://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/359cf424ec983665f44ea705db5d22d8.pdf
- Abstract:
Offsite manufacturing (OSM) is being promoted for construction project delivery by the UK government as part of industry transformation initiatives. OSM is considered a modern method of construction which, if widely adopted, can boost innovation in construction. Despite its espoused benefits, OSM is yet to become mainstream. This situation is attributed to factors including lack of client demand, investor reluctance due to lack of evidence for the value of OSM and (inter)organizational inertia in transitioning to new business models. Reasons holding back uptake have been examined from perspectives that fail to capture the multiple layers and facets of the construction industry and how their interdependencies impact the envisioned transformation. This paper highlights how the overall change agenda through a wide-scale adoption of OSM can be better understood using the multi-level sociotechnical transitions theoretical lens. Adoption of OSM in the UK is currently limited to discrete attempts at organisational and project (niche) levels. These are yet to accumulate adequate momentum to change the existing preferred way the construction industry works (technological regime). Technological transitions rarely result from a sudden shift from one regime to another. Realizing any meaningful transformation requires the co-evolution of, inter alia, existing regulations, institutions, market configurations, societal preferences, user practices, technologies and policy (sociotechnical regime). A gradual amalgamation of the sociotechnical developments and alignment with a 'niche cumulation' is key to triggering the desired ‘step changes’ that would facilitate an industry-wide adoption of OSM. Understanding these interdependent changes underscores the need for more comprehensive approaches in exploring the inhibitors to industry-wide uptake of OSM and highlights how improvements could be achieved through well-coordinated initiatives. The insights have implications for approaches adopted by governments to promote industry-wide OSM adoption and use.