Let's change tack, not wind direction: A response to Kog and Yaman (2016)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to field a critical response to Kog and Yaman (2016) specifically; and more widely, to strengthen debate on contractor selection (CS) research. Design/methodology/approach: Critical narrative and opinion based on personal worldview, experiential knowledge and future insight/vision. Findings: It is argued that enduring CS research has become somewhat stagnated. It has over-emphasised selection process models vis-à-vis the reliability and currency of their processing components, and has inadequately focused on achieving real-life impact. Research limitations/implications: The principal implication is to engender constructive debate in the field and encourage a change of direction in CS research. The limitation is that this response reflects a personal view and so will be open to “challenge”. Practical implications: Potential to encourage increased practicability, accessibility and generalisability of CS research products, leading to their increased real-life take-up and improved impact on practice. Social implications: For society, the optimal implications would be improved project outcomes; healthier stakeholders' financial interests; and an enhanced constructed environment. Originality/value: The content is entirely original insofar as it comprises a personal viewpoint.