Enhancing integration and innovation in construction

The poor performance of Singapore's construction industry, like its counterparts in other countries, has been highlighted in many studies. The most recent study in Singapore, 'Re-inventing Construction', criticized the performance of the industry and identified fragmentation and segregation of design and construction activities as the main barriers to improved investment and development. The objective of the paper is to identify the activities and initiatives that will motivate and enable the Singapore construction industry to achieve both greater levels of integration and increase the volume of R&D and innovation activities. An industry survey, workshop and interviews identified six factors. The main theme underlying them is the need for the creation of improved business and market conditions that demand further integration and greater innovation effort to meet customer demands and expectations.