Abstract:
Driving forces in construction industry indicate that the ability to innovate is quickly becoming a
competitive necessity. However construction industry has been generally slow to embrace
innovation and radical changes as fundamental changes in construction processes require shifts
in the conservative management perspectives of construction contractors. Thus the strategic
leadership has a crucial role in change initiatives for innovation in construction contractors. Our
research focus is to investigate the role of strategic leadership in creating change for innovation
in North Cyprus construction industry. Main objectives are to 1) analyze the current strategic
role of leadership in change initiatives for innovation, 2) identify the innovation driving
leadership models, roles, and styles 3) assess the effectiveness of innovation leadership models,
roles, and styles in construction contractors. The research includes review of background
literature, interviews with project/construction managers in the industry on change initiatives for
innovation in construction processes, analysis of this information to develop findings and
extending these to present the key strategic issues that could be targeted for creating wider
awareness of existence and persistence of incumbent and prevailing innovation initiatives in the
management perspectives of construction contractors. The paper commences on understanding
the current management perspectives of construction industry leaders in change for innovation in
North Cyprus. The paper concludes how the changes in owners’ demands and more complex
new facilities require innovative change initiatives to leave the old paradigms in construction
organizations. Besides technology and project-oriented perspectives, social issues like
organizational change and strategic focus on clients (market oriented) can be regarded as the
most important change initiatives for the construction industry leaders in North Cyprus.
