%0 Journal Article
%@ 2157-3735
%A Sergeeva, N
%D 2014
%F discovery:1437121
%J Engineering Project Organization Journal
%K Construction, innovation, narratives, processes, sensemaking
%N 1
%P 31-43
%T Understanding of labelling and sustaining of innovation in construction: a sensemaking perspective
%U https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1437121/
%V 4
%X Over the last few decades, innovation has been investigated in a variety of ways, reflecting upon different orientations and interests. However, the question of how organizational activities become recognized as innovations remains under-examined. The purpose of this paper is, therefore, to understand and explain how narratives of innovation are mobilized by construction sector practitioners. In order to achieve the aim, 30 semi-structured interviews were carried out with UK construction sector practitioners who have engaged with the Constructing  Excellence organization. A sensemaking perspective is adopted as a theoretical lens for explaining the interview data. The empirical findings suggest that organizational activities become labelled as innovations through the process of collective inter-subjectivity. Organizational activities become labelled as innovations retrospectively and make sense prospectively. As narratives of innovation can be repeated and recalled, storytelling lends to the process of sustaining legitimacy.
%Z This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Engineering Project Organization Journal on 02/10/14, available online: http://wwww.tandfonline.com/10.1080/21573727.2013.869211.