A fuzzy approach for evaluating the iterated implementation of innovations in construction

A fundamental challenge of implementing construction innovations is the planning and control of work. Most innovative projects do not fulfil their time and/or cost. Evaluation of innovation performance is not often simulated within existing innovation process models. Such an evaluation enables managers to accept new processes/products or iterate the implementation process to achieve satisfactory performance. This paper introduces a conceptual model that deals with the effectiveness of the innovation implementation phase. This model adopts the Dependency Structure Matrix (DSM) tool to simulate the iterated implementation of an innovation. The model uses influence information, and managerial and technological performance to control and simulate the implementation of innovations by their nature of experimentation, iteration and refinement. The paper presents a fuzzy logic approach to identify the required classification of interdependencies among iterated tasks within the DSM. Analysis of the model resulted in the implementation of innovations being programmed more effectively.