Page 213 - UKZN Proceedings of the Conference Report

The “Doing, Using, and Interacting” (DUI) modes represent some of the most prevalent learning approaches influencing innovative activities in the informal construction sector. These modes emphasise hands-on experience, practical problem-solving, and collaboration among workers, reflecting the sector’s adaptive and resourceful nature.
Figure 7 illustrates how these DUI learning processes manifest in real-world contexts, such as skill acquisition
through practice, knowledge sharing among peers, and iterative improvements in construction methods or materials. Searching is important, but it is the least used learning method. Informal business owners in this sector often use videos to learn about new trends.
A smaller sample also use scientific or technical knowledge. The breadth and strength of networks are key to fostering knowledge flows generating innovation activity in informal settings.
Figure 7: Modes of innovation in the informal construction sector Data source: CeSTII 2017-18 IIS Survey (CeSTII 2021)
Barriers to innovation
Table 2 shows that informal businesses face a myriad of obstacles, ranging from political to owner/manager factors. Our findings suggest that customers only pay a deposit upfront and then refuse to pay the remaining balance upon project completion.
“Customers do not want to pay for the work done” – VID 741 The inconsistence payments by customers can be
one of the reasons the annual income of the infor-
mal construction businesses was lower than that of the larger sample covered by the 2017-18 Innovation in the Informal Sector Survey.
Most of the informal enterprises’ turnover and profit margins are generally relatively low (Stats SA 2014). Most of the barriers did not influence innovation. Economic and environmental factors had a low effect on innovation in both the informal construction sector and across sectors covered by the sample.
Proceedings of the conference on Public innovation, develoPment and sustainability | 211