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This study aims to explore the innovation deployment of construction contracting firms through exploratory–exploitative learning and organisational ambidexterity.

Firstly, a literature-based conceptual framework was developed to explain innovation implementation through exploratory–exploitative learning and organisational ambidexterity. A prominent Hong Kong construction contracting firm was then selected as the case study to explore its innovation deployment at different organisational levels (i.e. firm and project levels). Qualitative data were attained by conducting 12 semi-structured interviews with industry experts and document analysis. The thematic analysis using NVivo 12 software was adopted to analyse data.

Findings reveal that the case study firm successfully fosters innovation when ambidexterity is achieved through the balance between exploratory (i.e. radical innovation) and exploitative learnings (i.e. incremental innovation).

Establishing uniform ambidexterity (i.e. 50:50) at the firm or project level is not mandatory to deploy innovation successfully. The ratio can vary based on the characteristics and requirements of construction firms.

This paper shall motivate construction practitioners to adopt radical–incremental innovation ambidexterity in firms and ultimately enhance the productivity and efficiency of the construction industry.

Previous construction innovation research has frequently explored firm or project-level innovation separately. This study identified a multi-level focus on innovation. Through the lens of exploratory–exploitative theory, different forms of innovation ambidexterity for different levels are suggested rather than one specific ambidexterity.

The low level of sustainable practices in the architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) sector continues to increase. In driving sustainability practice adoption and implementation, construction-contracting firms have introduced sustainability practices to their supply chain network. This study examines the strategies adopted by large construction-contracting firms in Ireland to integrate sustainability practices into their supply chain.

The study adopts the mixed-method approach using questionnaires and interviews to collect data. The relative importance index (RII) was used to analyse the data collected through the questionnaire survey. In terms of theoretical underpinning, the study was positioned in the resourced-based view (RBV) theory, which focusses on the link between a firm's internal characteristics and performance.

The results revealed that, in building a long-term relationship, trust, knowledge of the construction process, commitment, a common goal and mutual support were the key factors considered. While in developing their supply chain, suppliers' assessment and promoting competition in the supply chain were ranked high amongst the mechanisms utilised. Additional findings revealed that long-term relationships with a supply chain organisation have little impact on the project sustainability performance; instead, close collaboration and trust amongst the project team influenced the project sustainability performance.

The study focusses only on the main contractor's organisation. Further study will require exploring the supply chain organisations to provide a deeper understanding.

The research demonstrates that for construction-contracting firms to contribute positively to sustainability objectives, they will have to collaborate closely with their supply chain.

The study provided practical and empirical evidence to guide construction-contracting firms to develop strategies to drive and implement sustainable construction practices.

The article examines decision‐taking in European construction companies. It confirms the increasing importance of MNEs in the industry. The extent to which corporate decision‐taking on human resource matters in construction MNEs is distinctive and is examined. Construction MNEs show an increased use of certain types of flexible working. It is shown that this is in turn linked to decreased union influence, even in some countries with strong regulatory regimes. The argument’s implication is that the emergence of a new order in the industry poses a substantial threat to construction unions. This may in the long term endanger unions’ legitimacy within the European model of co‐operation between management and employee representatives.

Contracting practice and theory is based upon a legal framework which impedes the attainment of value, defined as quality and cost containment. The manufacture of complex, highly technical infrastructure is especially impeded. Constraints of the legal framework are being overcome through innovative infrastructure contracting practices which maintain competitiveness and accountability, and simultaneously foster collaboration among the participants. Some of these innovations are discussed along with five projects which utilized one or more of them. A management framework for contracting based on a competitive/collaborative model is offered which emphasizes value, cooperation, long-term relationships, accountability and stewardship.

The construction industry has arrived at a crossroads of rapid technological progress. While it is foreseen that the advent of new construction technologies will disrupt the construction industry’s future, such disruptions often create the ideal environment for innovation. As poor payment practices continue to plague the construction industry, the advent of smart contracts has created an opportunity to rectify the inherent flaws in the mitigation of payment problems in traditional construction contracts. Given the intrinsic resistance of construction firms to such revolutionary changes, this study aims to understand the various factors influencing the adoption of smart contracts in the Singapore construction industry.

A mixed method was adopted involving quantifying respondents’ perceptions of the factors influencing smart contract adoption, and validation from a group of interviewees on the matter. Out of 461 registered quantity surveyor members contacted via the Singapore institute of surveyors and valuers website, 55 respondents took part in the survey. This is followed by semi-structured interviews to validate the survey results.

The findings indicate that construction firms have neither a significant knowledge of nor willingness to adopt smart contracts. A total of 29 institutional factors were also identified that significantly influence the adoption of smart contracts. The quantitative findings were further reinforced by qualitative interviews with five industry experts.

With recognition of and the successful formulation of the significant institutional drivers and barriers, the key findings of this study will be integral in driving the commercial adoption of smart contracts within the construction industry.

The paper aims to report the research findings on the assets structure of medium‐sized building construction contracting firms in Nigeria and its implications on their operation.

The survey approach was adopted for the study. Two sets of data were collected: secondary source data from audited financial statements and primary source data using a structured questionnaire administered to management personnel of contracting firms. Descriptive statistical analysis and ratio analysis were employed for data analysis.

The results show that the assets structure of these firms comprise of fixed assets being less than half of the total assets, which imply that a greater portion of the total assets is current assets (held mainly as account receivables that sometimes may not be available within one year). There is generally a low investment in fixed assets from earnings over the years. The assets structure of these firms could impact on their ability to compete successfully on some project types especially where hiring options for plant and equipment are unavailable.

The research provides information on the assets structure of the medium‐sized building construction contractors in Nigeria. The study points to the need for adoption of a more proactive approach by building contractors in the face of a fluctuating workload.

This study aims to first identify influencing factors of outsourcing decisions in construction projects systematically and further to unravel the interactions of these influencing factors from a holistic perspective.

This study concerns the design and analysis of two-stage studies, where, at the first stage, a systematic literature review and 48 semi-structured interviews with senior practitioners in construction firms were conducted to identify influencing factors in outsourcing decisions in construction projects. At the second stage, the decision-making and trial evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method was employed to explore the interactions between influencing factors and pathways of outsourcing decisions.

Three focuses for outsourcing decisions are outlined, revealing that outsourcing restrictions, strategic needs and cost objectives need to be considered in outsourcing decisions. In addition, the finding contributes to the integration of transaction costs perspective and capability perspective by unravelling the mechanism of how different factors work together.

This study outlines 18 influencing factors and three sequential focuses for outsourcing decision-making, providing a clearer understanding of each factor’s contribution for decision-makers.

Most of the existing studies stressed the net effect of individual outsourcing factors from a single logic and paid little attention to their complex causal relationship. This study develops a holistic perspective of the influencing factors of outsourcing in construction projects by contending the overall knowledge of outsourcing and analyzing the causal relationship between them.

The main stimulus of this study is to examine the cultural profile of construction organizations within the context of Turkish construction industry.

This study is a part of a cross‐cultural research, initiated by CIB W112 (Working Commission W112 of the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction), concurrently ongoing in 15 different countries. Data were collected from 107 contracting and 27 architectural firms, by means of a questionnaire based on OCAI (Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument), a well‐known and widely used measurement tool developed by Cameron and Quinn (1999).

The findings show that the Turkish construction industry has been dominated by firms with a mixture of clan and hierarchy cultures. In addition, the analysis reported here indicates cultural differences at organizational level in terms of firm type, size, and age.

This paper contributes to the understanding of organizational culture in the construction industry by providing empirical evidence from the Turkish construction industry. As future research direction, it highlights the need of a cross‐cultural comparison among different countries, and an investigation of the effects of cultural profiles of the organizational members on organizational culture.

Technologies have had a positive impact on the construction industry. Technologies such as BIM, automation, augmented and virtual reality, Internet of Things and robotics have been adopted by construction firms to enhance productivity. However, not much research has been done on the awareness and adoption of wearable technologies for health and safety (H&S) management. This paper investigates the level of awareness and adoption of wearable technologies for H&S management in the Nigerian construction industry.

A quantitative research method was adopted for the study. An electronic questionnaire format was used as an instrument to collect the data. Both descriptive (mean score) and inferential statistics (Kruskal–Wallis test) were used to analyse the data.

The results indicate that organisations rarely use H&S wearable devices for H&S management although professionals within the construction industry are somewhat aware of the common H&S wearable devices. The findings further indicate that all 11 variables were perceived as “rarely adopted”, whereas 2 variables were perceived as “aware”, 3 variables as “slightly aware” and the remaining 6 variables as “somewhat aware”.

Data were collected from only construction professionals working in government agencies, consultancy firms and grade D contracting firms in Lagos and Abuja. For a broader perspective, a study that expands the number of states and categories of construction firms is recommended.

The construction industry in Nigeria can use the recommendations to improve H&S management on site. Moreover, the recommendations can contribute to the development of policies to promote the adoption of wearable technologies in construction sites.

Research on wearable technologies, particularly in the Nigerian construction industry, is at the developing stage. With this article, the authors contribute to the body of knowledge in this area of research.

The purpose of this study is to analyze and compare the impact of project-factors and organization-factors on five indicators of project performance for small and medium enterprise (SME) and large construction contracting firms that are fully responsible for the successful completion of the projects. The five performance indicators are time, cost, safety, quality and financial.

A questionnaire survey was conducted to solicit responses from project managers/directors from 342 construction firms in Malaysia. The construction firms included in this study came from various sectors: civil, building and infrastructure; oil and gas; marine and multidiscipline. Hierarchical multiple-regression was used to analyze the data.

The salient findings are as follows: (1) impacts of project-factors and organization-factors on performance indicators are different for SMEs and large construction firms and (2) relative impact of organization-factors on performance is much higher than the project-factors.

Analyzing the relative impact of project- and organization-factors on the performance of SMEs and large construction firms can significantly enhance the body of knowledge about performance levels and boost best practices in this respect related to construction industry.