Last among equals: a comparison of innovation in construction, services and manufacturing in the UK

Abstract

This paper contrasts the attitudes of firms towards innovation from the construction sector with those in services and manufacturing, using data from the UK innovation survey. We examine the liabilities that construction firms face in their innovative activities in comparison to other sectors, drawing from literature on the distinctiveness of construction as an economic activity. We find that the liabilities of immobility and unanticipated demand are among key distinguishing features that separate innovative behaviour in construction from other industries. The paper concludes with a discussion of the merits of cross‐sectoral comparative research of this kind, together with issues for further research.

Keywords:

• Construction innovation
• innovation
• innovation strategy
• manufacturing
• services

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Tim Venables and the three anonymous referees for comments made on an earlier version of this paper. We are grateful to the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and its IMRC at Imperial College London for supporting this research. We are also indebted to Ray Lambert and the Department of Trade and Industry for access to the UK innovation survey. The usual disclaimers apply.