Applying a Systems Thinking Approach to the Construction Industry

This book aims to shed light on why well-meaning initiatives and government white papers have failed to transform the UK construction industry. Mike Siebert applies a Systems Thinking approach to tackle the shared Wicked Problems faced by the industry, such as boosting productivity, building more sustainably, and improving working practices. He challenges the industry's decision-making and problem-solving approach and seeks to put Systems Thinking at the forefront to consider core issues from multiple perspectives. His central aim is to show how a Systems Thinking approach could resolve many of the industry's problems to benefit all parties involved.

Format: Hardback
Length: 206 pages
Publication date: 19 October 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book aims to shed light on why it is that so many well-intentioned initiatives and government white papers have failed to have the expected impact in transforming the UK construction industry. Using the UK housing sector as a case study, Mike Siebert applies a Systems Thinking approach to tackling some of the shared Wicked Problems faced by an industry that urgently needs to boost its productivity levels, build more sustainably and affordably, and generally improve its working practices. In an accessible and easy-to-read style, Siebert challenges the overall decision-making and problem-solving approach adopted by the industry and seeks to put Systems Thinking front and center to consider the core issues from multiple perspectives. Initially outlining the key stakeholders and the drivers and barriers to change, he then introduces Systems Thinking and explains using numerous examples of known issues what this approach could achieve. His central aim is to show how, if a Systems Thinking approach were to be applied to the UK housing industry's problems, many of them could be resolved to the benefit of all the parties involved – government, housebuilders, material suppliers, the warranty industry, the design industry, and the end users. These are shared problems, and they require shared solutions, but without first understanding these complex problems from the perspectives of all parties that need to benefit from the solutions being proposed, it is unlikely that those solutions will achieve the level of engagement needed for them to successfully meet their objectives.

This book aims to shed light on why it is that so many well-intentioned initiatives and government white papers have failed to have the expected impact in transforming the UK construction industry. Using the UK housing sector as a case study, Mike Siebert applies a Systems Thinking approach to tackling some of the shared Wicked Problems faced by an industry that urgently needs to boost its productivity levels, build more sustainably and affordably, and generally improve its working practices. In an accessible and easy-to-read style, Siebert challenges the overall decision-making and problem-solving approach adopted by the industry and seeks to put Systems Thinking front and center to consider the core issues from multiple perspectives. Initially outlining the key stakeholders and the drivers and barriers to change, he then introduces Systems Thinking and explains using numerous examples of known issues what this approach could achieve. His central aim is to show how, if a Systems Thinking approach were to be applied to the UK housing industry's problems, many of them could be resolved to the benefit of all the parties involved – government, housebuilders, material suppliers, the warranty industry, the design industry, and the end users. These are shared problems, and they require shared solutions, but without first understanding these complex problems from the perspectives of all parties that need to benefit from the solutions being proposed, it is unlikely that those solutions will achieve the level of engagement needed for them to successfully meet their objectives.

Weight: 570g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032366180