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Proceedings / IGLC 27

IGLC 27 · Dublin, Ireland · 2019

Diffusion of Lean Construction in Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises of Housing Sector

  1. Lecturer, Built Envir. Engrg. Dept., Auckland Univ. of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand, mani.poshdar@aut.ac.nz
  2. Senior Lecturer, Civil and Envir. Engrg. Dept., Univ. of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, v.gonzalez@auckland.ac.nz
  3. Civil and Envir. Engrg. Dept., Univ. of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, rsan640@aucklanduni.ac.nz
  4. Lecturer, Built Envir. Engrg. Dept., Auckland Univ. of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand, nariman.ghodrati@aut.ac.nz
  5. PhD student, Built Envir. Engrg. Dept., Auckland Univ. of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand, milad.katebi@aut.ac.nz
  6. Built Envir. Engrg. Dept., Auckland Univ. of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand, sttasv@gmail.com
  7. PhD candidate, Built Envir. Engrg. Dept., Auckland Univ. of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand, hamzah.alqudah@aut.ac.nz
  8. Lecturer, School of Art, Design and Architecture, Univ. of Huddersfield, UK, S.Talebi@hud.ac.uk

https://doi.org/10.24928/2019/0257

Abstract

The construction sector is known for its deficient productivity level compared to other sectors such as manufacturing. Lean approach, however, presents a promising option given its proven ability to improve the performance in other sectors. This study investigates the diffusion level of lean construction among the small to medium size enterprises (SMEs) by conducting a telephone survey in the Auckland region of New Zealand. The survey involved 100 enterprises active in the housing sector. The results indicated the rate of diffusion at three stages of a simplified innovation diffusion model including the knowledge exposure, decision analysis and implementation. The results are attributed to three main elements including the characteristics of SMEs as social units, the time required to attract adopters, and the level and type of communication must be used to reach the potential adopters. The study identified five main questions on the enablers and barriers of diffusion of lean construction to be addressed in future research.

Keywords

  • Benefits realization
  • action learning/research
  • trust
  • diffusion
  • SMEs in housing

Cite this paper

APA 7th edition

Poshdar, M., Gonzalez, V. A., Antunes, R., Ghodrati, N., Katebi, M., Valasiuk, S., Alqudah, H., & Talebi, S. (2019). Diffusion of Lean Construction in Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises of Housing Sector. In Proc. 27th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC) (pp. 383–392). https://doi.org/10.24928/2019/0257

Shortened reference for IGLC papers

Poshdar, M., Gonzalez, V. A., Antunes, R., Ghodrati, N., Katebi, M., Valasiuk, S., Alqudah, H., & Talebi, S. (2019). Diffusion of Lean Construction in Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises of Housing Sector. IGLC27. https://doi.org/10.24928/2019/0257