The fragmented structure and work practices of the construction industry continue to inhibit progress to high performance, according to one of its most senior figures.

At the annual JCT Povey Lecture last week, more than 100 industry leaders heard Bob White, Chairman of Constructing Excellence in the Built Environment, Non-Executive Chairman of Mace and Chief Executive of Building Futures Limited, gave a presentation entitled 'Innovation in the Change Agenda'.

He said: "This fragmentation is well demonstrated by the structures within the industry, as well as the way work is organised into a single team to achieve even the most straightforward of projects."

Mr White also said that construction reform, which had now been going on for more than a decade, had reached a stage: "Where the philosophy of collaboration (i.e. partnering/integrated team working) is accepted by most major industry organisations.

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"Leading clients, most regular users of the industry, both public and private, have accepted that the most successful way of harnessing the power of this collaboration is through frameworks - of a variety of shapes, sizes and duration."

Echoing the importance of framework agreements, the JCT had announced at its annual conference last month that it is about to publish its new JCT Framework Agreement. Bob White said: "The JCT, I am pleased to acknowledge, are 'on the case.'"

Mr White described how the construction industry is not viewed s being particularly innovative, a view with which he only partly agreed. He said: "Construction firms have always displayed a capability for innovation. The specific nature of on-site assembly particularly, with the many different organisations and specialisms, varieties of products and processes and the customisation of nearly every project has bred into the sector an innate ability to innovate.

"Despite this, however we are not viewed as an innovative sector. This is probably because the way in which we innovate does not lead to lasting improvements in performance across the country."

Concluding the lecture, he left those present in no doubt that they were part of a great industry, one which was well on the path to completing its reform.

(JM)