Foresight studies and reform initiatives in construction: Lessons for developing countries

Abstract

This paper analyses construction foresight studies and construction reform initiatives with a view to identifying lessons for developing countries. It notes the number of construction reform initiatives over the last 60 years, mostly in the developed countries, aimed at reforming the domestic construction industry, and equipping it to be globally competitive. The paper argues that although these studies contain a wealth of knowledge, they are prepared in the context of circumstances unique to developed countries. The paper then distils the lessons from these studies, contextualizes it and makes some observations relevant to a developing country’s unique circumstances and challenges. The paper will analyze foresight studies relevant to construction identifying commonalities; analyze global construction reform initiatives identifying commonalities; collate the consistencies and identify issues critical for comparable studies in developing countries; and posit conclusions and recommendations for construction development initiatives in developing countries.