Serendipitous innovation: Enablers and barriers in the construction industry

Serendipity has played a large part in the lives of many successful innovators but has been neglected from traditional neo-classical theories and models of strategy and innovation. Yet as the business world becomes more complex, uncertain and interconnected, there is accumulating evidence that innovation will be just as likely to arise from unexpected serendipitous insights as from deterministically planned innovation strategies. Building on this evidence, the enablers and barriers to serendipity in construction industry are discussed. Through in-depth semi structured interviews with thirty two leading innovators and policy makers in the Australian construction industry, these enablers are tested against the realities of practice in the construction industry. New insights are provided into the potential barriers which could prevent managers harnessing the serendipitous opportunities which lie untapped in the increasing randomness, connectivity and uncertainty which will characterize their future world.