RESEARCH ARTICLE

Marginalization and invasion of architects’ role on house projects: Institutional intervention inadequacy and super wicked problems

  • Samuel Frimpong , 1 ,
  • Ayirebi Dansoh 2
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  • 1. Department of Building Technology, Kumasi Technical University, P.O.Box UP 41, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
  • 2. Department of Building Technology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Private Mail Bag, Kumasi, Ghana

Received date: 23 Oct 2017

Revised date: 05 Apr 2018

Accepted date: 09 Apr 2018

Published date: 22 Oct 2018

Copyright

2018 2018 Higher Education Press Limited Company. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Abstract

The design and construction of houses normally require an architect's input. However, architects are increasingly being marginalized in these projects, and their roles are constantly being invaded by others. Despite repeated institutional interventions toward remedying this phenomenon, signs are not abating. This article examines the complexity of this phenomenon to explain the inadequacy of institutional interventions to address the problem. This article conceptualizes the phenomenon of marginalization and role invasion as a super wicked problem with six key features. First, the problem has a difficult definition. Second, the solution involves a large structural and economic burden.Third, time is of the essence. Fourth, multiple stakeholders attempting to solve the problem are part of the cause. Fifth, institutional interventions addressing the issue are weakorill-equipped. Sixth, institutional interventions discount the future irrationally. The implications of this conceptualization for institutional intervention and research are discussed.

Cite this article

Samuel Frimpong , Ayirebi Dansoh . Marginalization and invasion of architects’ role on house projects: Institutional intervention inadequacy and super wicked problems[J]. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 2018 , 7(3) : 292 -303 . DOI: 10.1016/j.foar.2018.04.001

Outlines

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