Innovativeness and sustainability: Difference and antecedent relationship

• Main Authors: Bamgbade, Jibril Adewale, Kamaruddeen, Ahmed Mohammed, Mohd Nawi, Mohd Nasrun
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: Academy for Global Business Advancement (AGBA) 2015
• Subjects: HD28 Management. Industrial Management
• Online Access: http://repo.uum.edu.my/19445/1/AGBA12%202015%20692-700.pdf; http://repo.uum.edu.my/19445/; http://www.agba.us/pdf/2015-AGBA-Malaysia-Conference-Proceedings.pdf
• Institution: Universiti Utara Malaysia

The relationship that exist, and a clear understanding of the difference between innovativeness and sustainability is imperative for researchers, policymakers and managers of large, medium and small contracting firms within the construction industry.This is especially so because innovation ideals heralding sustainable outcomes is of increasing interest in many societies, among businesses, academic circles and policy makers who, according to Liddle and El-Kafafi (2010), are becoming more and more sensitive to global trends and changing attitudes. A dearth of rigorous distinction and understanding between these two constructs may, however, distort findings resulting from innovation and sustainability studies.Thus, it is important that researchers as well as others with stakes in innovation/sustainability studies recognize the distinction between them and how they are related. According to Kamaruddeen, Yusof, and Said (2010), innovation research becomes proliferated in the early 1960s.And by the 70s, its primary focus was on conceptualization and theory building. Albeit descriptive in nature, researchers were able to analyze associations that exist between various contextual factors and organizational features. Subsequently, interests became shifted to widening the basis and theoretical underpinnings with a view to developing more innovative institutions and organisations.Khilji, Mroczkowski & Bernstein (2006) equally acknowledged that early models and theories of innovation emphasized technology in product development, while ignoring the interplay of supply and demand (the market forces), environment and sundry sustainability considerations.This paper, first and foremost recognizes that firms requires innovation as a driver to gain success and competitive advantage, and for ultimate survival in the hyper-turbulent competitive market environment (Auh and Menguc, 2005; Hultink, Griffin, Robben & Hart 1998; Vorhies & Morgan, 2005; Crespell, Knowles & Hansen, 2006) and that it is capable of influencing not only organisational productivity and profitability, but also a vital procedure in sustainability adoption in organizations (Chan & Liu, 2012).Thus, the paper provides explanations of the concepts of innovativeness and sustainability within construction organization from the extant literature. It then presents a brief argument about the antecedent relationship between the constructs. The difference between these constructs is then presented.Definitions offered in this paper are construction industry-specifics.They may; however be applicable to related industries.