BNV7044 Innovation in Construction

This document outlines the assessment details for the BNV7044 Innovation in Construction module at Birmingham City University. The module, part of MSc programs in Construction Project Management, Quantity Surveying, and Environmental Sustainability, focuses on innovation in the construction industry. Assessments include a poster (30%) showcasing an innovative idea and a 3000-word report (70%) critically analyzing an innovation and proposing a strategy for successful implementation. The module covers theories of innovation, managing change, BIM, lean construction, and offsite manufacturing. Resources include lectures, seminars, Moodle discussions, and recommended readings. The module aims to equip students with the skills to identify, evaluate, and implement innovative approaches in construction projects.

Faculty of
Computing, Engineering
and the Built Environment
Module Guide
Postgraduate Programme
Academic Year 2016-17
Module Code / Title: BNV7044 Innovation in Construction
Moodle-site: moodle.bcu.ac.uk/
School: School of Engineering and the Built Environment
Module Co-ordinator: Dr Niraj Thurairajah
Module Tutors: Mr. Vermy Gunaratne and Mr. Nalin Gilbert
Contact Information: [e-mail] [e-mail]
Brief Descriptions of
the Items of
Assessment:
You will be expected
to complete ALL
Assessments.
1. Poster (30%): Two A2 size poster or One A1 size to show
fundamentals of an innovative idea, reason for its selection
and its applicability in within the selected context.
2. Report (70%): Coursework assignment requiring the
following elements:
a. introducing the innovative idea, a substantive
argument for its selection and critically analysis of its
applicability in general
b. development of a substantive argument critically
analysing an innovation in practice and presenting an
argued strategy that might be more successful. 3,000
word limit.
Information is for guidance only.
See iCity/Moodle on the intranet for details.
Assessment
Weightings: See iCity/Moodle on the intranet for details.
Assessment deadline
dates:
See iCity/Moodle on the intranet for details.
http://moodle.bcu.ac.uk
Re-assessment
deadline date: Will be notified by ICBT Campus

Support available for
students required to
submit a re-
assessment:
The Module tutor will be available to provide feedback and
guidance on your re-assessment and you are advised to contact
them at the earliest opportunity. This can be done via email with
module tutor during the period preceding the hand in date. The
re-assessment Coursework will be available to download from
MOODLE and support materials will be available on MOODLE
to assist you with the re-assessment.
Individual assignments
The work you submit shall be your own and not the product of collaboration with anyone
else. Plagiarism will be penalised.
Classroom Conduct
No student has the right to disrupt classes. Such behaviour denies other students the
opportunity to benefit from the full educational experience. You may be asked to leave if
your behaviour is considered to be unacceptable. It is therefore expected that you should:
 Arrive punctually to all sessions.
 Preferably sit to the front of the lecture room.
 Avoid talking to other students during taught sessions unless specifically requested
to do so.
 Concentrate on and engage in the lecture and/or seminar.
 Raise a hand before contributing verbally.
 Above all, please treat staff and fellow students as you would like to be treated -
with respect.
Academic Regulations
Your studies will be governed by the Standard Postgrauate Assessment Regulations
(SPAR 2).
Under these regulations you are permitted three attempts at assessment for each module:
a first sit and two re-assessment attempt.
This means that you will be required to withdraw from the course if, following the final
reassessment attempt, you have not passed.
Faculty: CEBE School/Department: BSBE
Module Title: Innovation in Construction
Programme(s) on which the module is delivered: MSc Construction Project
Management, MSc Quantity Surveying and MSc Environmental Sustainability

Aims: The programme philosophies advocate effective and efficient management of
construction projects from design right through to occupation via sound
construction methods and innovative management practices. This module is
consistent with this philosophy since it delivers the fundamentals of innovation,
application and methods of implementation throughout the project.
The programmes aim to produce highly skilled, innovative and far-sighted
construction project managers by preparing the students to a broad yet rigorous
grounding in the fundamentals of organising and managing construction projects
and challenging the students to question their current thinking and the practices
adopted in the face of a rapidly changing global construction industry. This module
delivers against the aims of the programmes by critically considering the theories
of innovation and past examples of changes introduced in construction industry
and exploring problems and issues involved in the implementation of innovation.
This module develops critiques of new approaches in the industry to enable
students to assess the value of these in differing situations and explore wider
aspects of change management including resistance and inertia as both an
organisational and individual level in order to assist the student to be able to create
strategies for managing change.
Indicative content
The module will consider change as an innovation process. This module will explore
wider aspects of change management including
• Theories of innovation
• Innovation issues and trends influencing the construction process
• Managing innovation and change: product, process and people perspectives
• Risk management in construction innovation
• Building Information Modelling (BIM)
• Lean construction
• Offsite manufacturing
The unit will explore the creative, and implementation processes involved in innovation as
well as developing critiques of new approaches in the industry to enable students to
assess the value of these in differing situations.
Study mode / delivery method(s):
150 hours, of which 36 hours are formal class contact
Teaching will be based on weekly lectures, supplemented with seminar sessions /
workshops during which the students will work in groups and present their findings in
respect of scenarios / case studies. Moodle will be used for discussion and feedback.
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Intended Learning Outcomes and the means by which they are to be achieved and
demonstrated.
Learning Outcome Learning and Teaching Methods
1. Identify and define innovation issues
and trends influencing the construction
process.
The format of the module will be a combination of
lectures and seminars, incorporating individual
and group activities.
It is expected that students will actively
participate in class exercises during which
students will be expected to work in groups and
present their findings in respect of scenarios /
case studies.
There is a dedicated Moodle site for this module,
which provides students access to additional
materials, e.g. PowerPoint presentations, links to
academic articles and other web-based
resources.
The module will take advantage of site visits and
an international residential visit to inquire into
different cultural approaches to the development
of the industry.
2. Use research and advanced scholarship
skills to inquire into the appropriateness
of current and innovative process
models and organisational behaviour for
the practice of construction project
management.
3. Evaluate project and organisational
processes, people and services and the
way that they accommodate change.
4. Use analytical research skills to critically
assess the processes of change and
devise strategy for successful
implementation innovative approaches.
Assessment and feedback
1. Poster (30%): Two A2 size poster or one A1 size to show fundamentals of an
innovative idea, reason for its selection and its applicability in within the selected
context.
2. Report (70%): Coursework assignment requiring the following elements:
a. introducing the innovative idea, a substantive argument for its selection and
critically analysis of its applicability in general
b. development of a substantive argument critically analysing an innovation in
practice and presenting an argued strategy that might be more successful.
3,000 word limit.
Learning outcomes 1 to 4 will be assessed.
Feedback
In addition to regular in class feedback on formative assessments, specific comments will
be provided for the presentation and the coursework. The dedicated Moodle site will offer
a forum for general discussion, questions and feedback.
Related Modules
This is an independently developed module, but has links with the modules of People and
Organisation, Construction Law and Contract, Business Management and Critical
Evaluation of Practice.
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Learning Resources
Essential Reading
Akintoye, A, Goulding, J and Zawdie, G, (Eds.) (2012) Construction innovation and
process improvement. Wiley-Blackwell, London
Johnson, G., Scholes, K. and Whittington, R. (2011) Exploring Corporate Strategy: Texts
and Cases. Prentice Hall, London
Woudhuysen, J. and Abley, I. (2003) Why is construction so backward? John Wiley &
Sons, Chichester
Recommended Reading
Barrett, P., Sexton, M. G. and Lee, A. (2008) Innovation in small construction firms.
Routledge, London
Boyd, D. and Chinyio, E. (2006) Understanding the construction client, Blackwell, Oxford
Cox, A. W. (1998) Strategic procurement in construction: towards better practice in the
management of construction supply chain, Thomas Telford, London
Gann, D.M. (2000) Building innovation: complex constructs in a changing world, Thomas
Telford, London
Shaw, P. (2002) Changing the conversation in organizations: a complexity approach to
change, Routledge, London
Stacey, R. (2011) Strategic Management and Organisational Dynamics: the challenge of
complexity to ways of thinking about organisations. (6th Edition). Pearson Education,
London
Tidd, J., and Bessant, J. (2009) Managing innovation: integrating technological market
and organizational change (4th edition), Wiley, Chichester.
Sources (which can also be accessed externally) such as
Moodle: http://moodle.bcu.ac.uk
Library http://library.bcu.ac.uk
The above website addresses will lead to resources such as course documentation,
lecturers’ notes, full text newspaper and periodical articles, links to other website
resources.
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