| dc.description.abstract | The Dutch construction sector has to deal with two great social issues. First, the Dutch government is
increasingly emphasizing the transition to a more sustainable industry, that focuses on circularity and
reducing the environmental impact. Secondly, there is a housing shortage in the Netherlands. In order
to accomplish both tasks, the Dutch government is pushing for more innovation in order to achieve a
sustainability transition. To analyze whether a sustainability transition is occurring and innovations are
initiated to accelerate the transition, this research used the multi-level perspective and the small wins
approach. Small wins are completed, concrete, implemented outcomes of moderate importance, and
focus on incremental change to achieve sustainable results for large societal challenges. The research
aims to systematically analyze innovative initiatives of small-scale, which are qualified as small wins,
in the sustainability transition issue of the Dutch construction industry, by answering the following
research question:
How can “small wins” amplify the sustainability transition of the Dutch construction industry?
To formulate an answer on this questions, a qualitative research design was used. Sixteen initiatives
were studied that contributed to the sustainability transition as derived from desk research. The
conducted interviews were coded using the constant comparative method in order to compare
categories and identify patterns.
The analysis showed that moderate importance is experienced as valuable for small wins to achieve
more radical change and transformations. Small wins should have concrete outcomes to eventually
become positively judged by others, which stimulates the development of the small win. The market
barriers small wins experience are causing technical and regulatory barriers small wins have to
overcome. The risk averse nature of the construction industry is hampering the further development
of the small wins. In addition, small wins should couple their initiatives to other problem areas in order
to increase the energizing and logic of attraction mechanism. As a result, more imitation and
competition could occur, which would amplify the sustainability transition.
Based on these results, it can be concluded that small wins should operate on a local and small scale,
to develop radical innovations. By doing so, small wins will experience less resistance from the market.
By being competitive on price and by complying with dominant standards and certification procedures,
small wins can overcome existing barriers. The assumption is that when the right propelling
mechanisms are activated, small wins can amplify the sustainability transition in the Dutch
construction industry. | |
