Prof Jennifer Whyte
Professor in Innovation and Design
School of Construction Management and Engineering
University of Reading, UK
Email address: J.Whyte [at] reading.ac.uk
My research explores digital practices of delivery in large engineering projects. The work is conducted in collaboration with leading project teams, on major projects such as the London 2012 Olymipcs and CrossRail. Digital delivery has become particularly timely and important, with the UK government mandating the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the Construction Strategy.
The Design Innovation Research Centre is an EPSRC Challenging Engineering exploration group that I lead, which has a vision of a new mode of design in the digital economy. The focus is on digital design interfaces, within design and over time, between design, construction and operations, and between digital models and the real buildings and infrastructure. The research draws on and contributing to engineering, innovation, management, design and construction. It is conducted in close collaboration with industry; informs practice and policy; and is published in top international journals. Set-up in 2010, the Centre has £1.25m funding for the first 5 years, and currently has a core team of 9 researchers, at post-doctorate and doctorate levels, as well as a network of associate members. As well as our national and international links, the team works closely with other researchers across the University that study the digital economy.
Background Information
I am a Professor in Innovation and Design at the School of Construction Management and Engineering at the University of Reading. Within the School, I am Deputy Director of Research, a member of the School Strategy Board and on the Management Board of the Technologies for Sustainable Built Environments Industrial Doctorate Centre. Research is published in international journals including Long Range Planning, Organization Studies, Strategic Organization, Building Research and Information and Construction Management and Engineering and I lead the School's Digital Practices theme.
Current industrial and policy collaborators include Arup, Bentley, Halcrow, Fulcro, and Vinci. I input into policy through the government/industry working groups on Building Information Modelling; sit on the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Information Systems Panel; and ran an ICE/AIM event on Engineering Management in the Digital Economy. I previously input into the UK government's Cox Review on Design and Creativity, co-authoring an Advanced Institute of Management report on Design and Creativity in the Firm, also leading an Audi Design Foundation project on 'Skills for Innovation in the Design Industries'.