Social capital, which derives from the network of social relationships in which people are embedded, has increasingly been seen as a resource that firms can use and which enables them to tap into and exploit their intellectual capital and, thus, release the firm's innovative potential. Yet, in...

Purpose – The built environment subject area is now well-established as a recognised field of study. However, because of its vocational orientation it is usually defined in terms of a particular range of professional activities and aptitudes. In consequence the theoretical nature of its...

In analyses of action options regarding sustainability, the economic theory of production is often used as a conceptual starting point. We contend that this theory is deficient, even counterproductive. Especially, we argue that effective options exist for sustainability improvement that are not...

Purpose – The paper's purpose is to identify the key knowledge variables within a facilities management (FM) environment and to develop an understanding of how FM knowledge is generated and utilised within FM organisations. Design/methodology/approach – The paper includes a review of...

The research strategy dictates the major direction of the research and constitutes one of the important decisions made by the researcher. However, researchers’ understanding on theory at the outset of the research guides the design of the research. The paper presents an overview of the...

In Malaysia, the strategic changes towards the promotion of the concept of Industrialized Building System (IBS) started in 1998. It is envisaged that the benefits expected from the adoption of IBS will have positive and dramatic impact on the culture of building practices. An important issue...

There is an increasing emphasis on the importance of innovation for the longterm economic success of businesses. At the same time the construction industry is characterized as being a poor innovator in comparison to other industries. If the university sector is to play a role in increasing...

By 2003 the first Irish Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects had reached the operational stage. Media reports were emerging of significant differences in the effectiveness of these projects. This research set out to find a means by which effectiveness of PPPs could be increased and to...

The UK construction industry is suffering from severe skill shortages. It is also suffering recruitment problems with its traditional male workforce. The constant reliance on a limited recruitment base disadvantages the industry by disregarding half the population and the diversity of skills...