Skip to main content

Federal Policies to Foster Innovation and Improvement in Constructed Facilities Summary of a Symposium (1996) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

LEVERAGING FEDERAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT TO PROMOTE INNOVATION IN THE U.S
Pages 113-118

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 113...
... Three separate workshops were convened covering technology, federal government roles, and management approaches as they relate to leveraging federal investment to promote innovation. The workshops offered the opportunity to develop substantive recommendations for policy makers to consider for eventual implementation.
Read the entire page →
From page 114...
... This type of partnering is occurring only to a limited extent in the United States, due in part to the fact that neither the government nor a voluntary organization controls the construction process. To foster innovation and technological advancement, the federal government should reorient its thinking so that it can better identify industry's problems, align these with the problems the government is trying to solve, and then work together to arrive at an arrangement that will serve both interests optimally.
Read the entire page →
From page 115...
... Such R&D and demonstration projects should satisfy the government's role as a smart buyer and a model for excellence. The government has the infrastructure resources to do this: the General Services Administration alone has access to tens of thousands of buildings, the Federal Highway Administration owns 6 percent of the nation's roads, and the Corps of Engineers owns a wide variety of facilities across the country and around the world.
Read the entire page →
From page 116...
... Federal managers have to become marketers for the improvements that are to be gained from these alternative contract forms and how they can benefit the government in the long run. Managers need to be selective and choose their projects carefully, then use those projects to demonstrate to decision makers and policy makers that there are distinct advantages in alternative contract forms.
Read the entire page →
From page 117...
... It will not be possible to standardize management approaches across the entire federal government. In looking at management practices, it should be recognized that the different federal agencies have a uniqueness, different missions, and different types of projects.
Read the entire page →
From page 118...
... , Mr. Bernstein created an industry research foundation which integrates diverse groups within the civil engineering community to facilitate and coordinate common solutions to complex research challenges facing our nation and the civil engineering profession.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • construction industry
  • civil engineering
  • promote innovation
  • capital investment
  • leveraging federal

  • federal sector
  • policy statement
  • federal capital
  • foster innovation
  • contract forms

  • management approaches
  • alternative contract
  • civil engineers
  • federal facilities
  • construction process

  • jersey institute
  • mechanical engineers
  • encourage federal
  • cum laude
  • organization controls

  • industry research
  • complex research
  • duscha consulting
  • appropriate forum
  • standardize management

  • identify industry
  • highway administration
  • foster construction
  • federal expertise
  • consulting engineer


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.