Increasingly, projects need to be optimized to create the most value for their clients and users. With the fragmented nature of project teams, decisions can be lost, communication sporadic, and information disjointed. In addition, the rapid pace of innovation means that it’s difficult – if not impossible – for architects and engineers to be aware of all the latest construction products and materials. / continue reading
I had the pleasure of interviewing management consultant Markku Vesa on his PhD thesis Innovation Management in the Construction Products Industry. Markku has a 40-year-long history in the industry in Finland, which makes this thesis very personal and insightful. He used a qualitative research methodology, strongly relying on theme interviews. / continue reading
There has always been a school of thought which considers small businesses to be the central driver of economic growth in the UK. This was supported by recent economic data, which reported that sole traders are particularly prominent in the contemporary economy with 200,000 having established themselves in 2014. At the beginning of 2014 there were 5.2 million private sector businesses in the UK, for example, which were 330,000 more than the previous years’ figures. Of this number, a staggering 197,000 were sole traders. / continue reading
Although many other nations are gaining ground, the United States remains the world’s top manufacturing country. We produce more goods and services than any other nation, and as you can imagine, this high production rate costs money. In fact, according to the National Association of Manufacturers, it is 20% more expensive to manufacture in the United States than it is among other major trading partners, excluding labor. / continue reading
Water usage has long been a point of contention in America. Water rights are the principal issue in areas where access has traditionally been limited, and water usage enters the picture wherever water supplies are being monitored for shared use. / continue reading