Re-evaluation of the existing change management models to improve the response of the Building Code of Australia to environmental docility

This thesis presents a conceptual analysis of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) from a change management perspective. The conceptual analysis identifies three principal change management models that have implicitly underpinned the operation of the BCA: logical incrementalism, emergent strategy and co-participative change management. It notes a shift of emphasis in the BCA as it has sought to change from an essentially reactive prescriptive code to one that embraces greater flexibility and proactivity. In order to identify the operational strengths and weaknesses of each of the change management frameworks that underpin the BCA in coping with the more rapid social and technological change that is characteristic of 21st century Australia, each framework was compared in terms of its ability to enable a proactive response to the prevailing BCA hazard identification and risk management requirements. Whilst this analysis showed that the BCA is continuing to provide a generally acceptable built environment it nonetheless identified that the management of change and risk by the BCA is not sufficiently flexible to proactively identify and respond to emerging demographic needs and demands. These weaknesses are particularly evident in situations where building occupants lack the capacity or capability to adapt their behaviour to overcome the restrictions of a BCA compliant built environment in order to satisfy their needs and goals. This condition is known as environmental docility (Lawton, 1974). The limited ability of the BCA highlighted by this analysis pointed to a need to add to the BCA’s underlying conceptual frameworks. Drawing together McLain and Lee’s Adaptive Management Theory (McLain & Lee, 1996), Tolbert & Zucker’s Radical Innovation Management Theory (Tolbert & Zucker, 1966) and Cohen and his colleagues’ work on assessing building performance (Cohen et. al., 2001) a conceptual framework better suited to contemporary needs was proposed. It seeks to provide a conceptual framework for the BCA that enables proactive response to change that draws on past evidence based knowledge and build new knowledge into this evidence base to inform the continuous improvement of the BCA and its application. The thesis proposes practical addition to improve the ability of the BCA to manage more rapid change. This framework is described as an Adaptive and Reflexive Governance Pathway (ARGP). The ARGP seeks to provide a practical theory based approach that supports experimentation and learning as well as active citizen and stakeholder engagement in policy making and implementation whilst maintaining the strengths of building regulation secured by building codes such as the BCA. To test the utility of the AGRP ARGP as an additional methodology to improve the operation of the BCA the thesis reports two proof of concept case studies. The first study considered sleep quality in irregular hour sleepers as an example of a group subject to a type of environmental docility that to date is not recognised by the BCA. The discovery stage of the AGRPARGP identified a large body of research reporting bedroom air temperature, noise and air quality as environmental variables that impact on sleep quality. A mixed method study was undertaken in which shift workers used self-report diaries to record their sleep supported by electronic data loggers to continuously monitor room temperature, noise and air quality. The second case study considered whether the ARGP change management methodology was sufficiently flexible to test the efficacy of historic DtS content that to date had been assumed to meet occupant needs. Using CO2 part per million (ppm) concentrations as a proxy for satisfactory air quality, it tested whether a BCA compliant Class 9b gymnasium building actually provided the ventilation conditions necessary to support active physical exercise by its users. Both of the proof of concept studies illustrated the practical utility of the ARGP to support the data collection and experimentation necessary for proactive change management that enables stakeholder engagement. They provided a first step in the transfer of the ARGP proposed by this thesis into practice. The conceptual analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the BCA from a change and risk management perspective along with the development of an additional framework and the initial testing of its practical utility provides strong support for the AGRP ARGP as a useful and worthwhile addition to enable the BCA to better address the 21st century demands for building regulation that can proactively support change and active stakeholder engagement.