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A discouraging problem regarding the use of robots within production processes is the perception by designers of single, unique products (such as buildings) that a manufacturing approach, reliant upon high levels of standardisation, constrains design creativity. An alternative approach, based upon the production philosophy of true simplification, is proposed. This suggests that robots be provided with an ability to reason founded in Task Path modelling theory, enabling them to autonomously carry out task planning within the context of the production problem, and path planning within the production environment. These actions are combined as the basis of task path theory. Task path theory does not infer that robots attempt to emulate human operatives in their physical actions with regard to the production process.

Examines experimental data that forms part of an ongoing research programme focused on the issue of assessing task difficulty within construction industry processes. In this instance, the process is the task of bricklaying. The data is compared to previous data resulting from an earlier experiment, and the differences between the data sets are used to further develop task path general theory (previously referred to as tolerance requirement general theory). A forecasting equation for placing time is proposed on the basis of it “explaining” approximately 70 per cent of the factors contributing to the operative’s assessment of difficulty in completing a task. Further research is proposed in order to develop task path theory further.

The paper examines the main theories of visual perception in the context of their possible relevance to the communication of construction industry concepts related to the process of production. This context is suggested as being primarily concerned with stationary, as opposed to mobile, visual stimuli. It is therefore concluded that the ecological theory of perception is of little relevance to this work. The theories of physiological and psychological perception present areas worthy of further research.

The paper concentrates on the analysis of data from the first of two experiments designed to examine aspects of tolerance requirement general theory. Both experiments were designed to constitute a pilot study into a possible relationship between difficulty of a task and time taken to carry it out. The objectives were to identify and eliminate any spurious relationships within the data, and to establish the form, if any, of a robust mathematical relationship between one aspect of the work activity and time taken. The aspect focused on is that of tolerance requirements, which are not seen in the context of this research as being optimum plus‐or‐minus values for tolerance sizes. Data analysis results in a re‐examination of the proposed nature of tolerance requirements. This leads to further development of tolerance requirement general theory, particularly with regard to the calculation of tolerance requirement values.

The paper considers the development process for experimental work intended as a pilot study of the role of tolerance requirement general theory. This theory is proposed as a factor in the automated assessment of task difficulty in construction industry activities. Task difficulty, structured within a generic task hierarchy, is taken as a possible indicator of the level of buildability inherent in the on‐site production of construction artefacts. The proposed nature of general tolerance requirement theory is introduced. This initial research proposes six individual tolerance requirements, each with a different function within the general theory, which an operative responds to either explicitly or implicitly in carrying out construction tasks. These tolerance requirements are not defined in terms of plus or minus values. The paper concentrates on a discussion of factors relevant to the design of a suitable experiment as a pilot study of the suggestion that tolerance requirements may allow quantitative analysis of task difficulty.

An examination from an historical perspective of the stereotype applied to constructors, with an emphasis on the contemporary stereotype of constructors within the UK construction industry, indicates that constructor stereotypes have become increasingly negative. Over the same period, the stereotype of architects has become increasingly positive and the status of architects has increased, whereas that of constructors has decreased. Possible factors in the development of such a situation are considered, as is the possibility of moving the constructor's negative stereotype to a more positive position through an awareness of the effects of the Bob the Builder cartoon character. There is evidence that Bob has become a hero to the current generation of pre‐school children, with the consequence that this generation is more receptive to the possibility of constructors exhibiting behaviour which can be characterized in positive terms. Little evidence exists of the UK industry's reaction to this situation.

A number of confusions within the area of performance assessment with regard to the use of terminology, and differing interpretations, regarding competence assessment are discussed. A significant difference between the US and UK approaches to performance assessment is identified as being the issue of behaviours. A hierarchy of terms and their specific meanings is proposed as a first step in addressing the identified confusions. A particular aspect of this hierarchy is its relevance to assessment based on behaviours and attitudes rather than simply on the results of functional analysis concerning a particular job. This has implications for the future direction of performance assessment in the UK, particularly with regard to identifying the differences between average and superior performance.

The purpose of this paper is to utilize the three abstract-concrete levels of ontology of strong structuration theory (strong ST) to examine how, and to what extent, was the development of carbon accounting frameworks at the policy, industry, and organizational levels enabled by external structures as conditions of action, that is, what was the nature of active agency within a field of position-practice relations that led to the development of these frameworks.

A case study was undertaken drawing upon interviews that were undertaken between 2008 and 2011 at the industry and organizational levels as well as documentary evidence relating to carbon accounting policy development at the macro, or policy level.

The parliamentary committee hearings into the development of the carbon price legislation represented fields of position-practice relationships which highlighted the interplay of the internal structures, capabilities and the roles of both power and trust of the agent(s)-in-focus. A meso-level analysis of the Victorian water industry highlighted how it was able to mediate the exercise of power by the macro level through the early adoption of carbon accounting frameworks. At the ontic or micro level of the individual water business, the development of a greenhouse strategy was also the outcome of position-practice relationships which highlighted the interplay of the internal structures and dispositions of the agent(s)-in-focus. The position-practice relationships at both the industry and organizational level were characterized by both soft power and trust.

Future research could investigate how the withdrawal of the carbon pricing mechanism in Australia has affected the development of carbon accounting practices whilst overseas research could examine the extent to which carbon accounting frameworks were the outcome of position-practice relationships.

Given the global significance of carbon accounting, this paper provides an overview as to how the early adoption of voluntary carbon accounting practices resulted in a reduction in carbon emissions within the water industry and therefore limited its liability for the carbon price.

This paper illustrates how the strong ST ontological concept of position-practices can be utilized at the macro, meso, and ontic levels and how these relationships mediated the impact of the carbon price upon both the water industry and the individual water business.

Examines the factors that may affect, both positively and negatively, the nature of visuospatial cognition. These factors are considered within the context of the level of cognition (which follows on from the act of visual perception) achieved by individual students with regard to concepts concerning construction industry production processes. The key production concept in this paper is that of interdependency. Results in a hypothesis relating to the enhancement of communication of concepts such as interdependency through utilisation of structured entities. This hypothesis will be evaluated in future research.

Growing emphasis on meeting client needs and improving project performance within the construction industry has led to increasing use of fully integrated “design and build” (D&B) construction project teams. Advocates of the D&B system contend that integrating design and construction this way leads to a seamless procurement process, improved team relationships, and a more efficiently delivered product. This article reports on research which explored the operational efficiency of such integrated project teams. The findings suggest that despite the benefits of integration, cultural and professional interfaces remain which impair team performance and undermine structural change management protocols. This effectively leaves the team operating as work‐groups in a similar way as they would under a traditionally procured contract, with the construction team excluded from the change management process. A methodology is proposed for exploring these discontinuities in detail, and addressing intra‐work‐group conflicts which threaten the continued development of D&B within the sector.