Adapting novel research techniques to analyse collaboration in offsite manufacturing housing construction innovations

The Australian housing sector continues to function in a traditional, inefficient, craftbased manner. A few exemplary supply chains have addressed these challenges through innovative offsite manufacturing (OSM) techniques. Despite its benefits, uptake of OSM in Australia remains limited. A fundamental challenge to OSM is the lack of collaboration across the deeply fragmented housing construction sector. While collaboration is critical in these settings, theoretical work on the topic remains limited. This paper's aim is to examine collaborative practice in innovative housing construction supply chains in Australia using an innovative methodology that supports actor-network theory with causal loop diagrams. Drawing on qualitative data from five OSM supply chains, elements that influence the creation stage of collaborative networks were identified, along with inter-relationships between them. Actor-network theory is applied to initially structure the identified elements into a tentative sequential process. Relationships between elements including their causal influence, feedback loops and polarities are then proposed through a causal loop diagram. The outcome is a model of collaboration in OSM settings that identifies key elements in the critical first phase of network creation to enable innovations in OSM. The model can readily be translated into practitioner materials that build collaborative capacity in the construction industry.