Identifying the factors that influence innovation championing behaviour in construction support services organisations: a review of the role of middle management

Abstract

Innovation has been considered an important means by which organisations seek to achieve advantage over competition and for improving performance in today's highly competitive business environment. A number of factors have been identified as influencing innovation in project-based construction organisations. These include internal factors such as organisational culture, climate, leadership style and exogenous influences such as clients. Although research recognises how important it is for senior management to create an environment conducive to innovation, there is little understanding of how these internal and external factors interact to impact on innovativeness. This paper reviews relevant literature on innovation, organisational culture, organisational climate and leadership style while examining how they combine with external factors to promote innovation in construction support services organisations. The study particularly focuses on the role of key organisational actors with responsibility for developing a climate to facilitate innovation at the divisional or business unit level. The review reveals that efforts to develop a climate that promotes innovation championing behaviour among project managers will be influenced by the organizational culture, leadership style and the extent of external influence on project delivery. The study further reveals the importance of middle managers in promoting innovation. A methodology is presented for examining the role of this key managerial constituency and the ways in which they can enable or impede the innovation process.