https://doi.org/10.24928/2020/0065

Principles as a Bridge Between Theory and Practice

John Skaar¹, Trond Bølviken², Lauri Koskela³ & Bo Terje Kalsaas⁴

¹PhD Student/Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Engineering Sciences, University of Agder, N-4846 Grimstad, Norway, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-0003- 2290-2374
²Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Engineering Sciences, University of Agder, N-4846 Grimstad, Norway, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-0003-4834-2408
³ Professor, School of Art, Design and Architecture, University of Huddersfield, UK, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-0003-4449-2281
⁴Professor, Dr. Ing., Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Engineering Sciences, University of Agder, N-4846 Grimstad, Norway, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-0003-4383- 1683

Abstract

Principles can carry the intent from the theory they represent. Military strategy has a long history of being presented through principles of war. In Lean Construction, principles like “flow,” “pull,” “remove waste” are used with ease. However, have they been correctly treated and understood? Supported by a literature review, we follow the use of principles through the history and the standing and character they have gained. The work is grounded in the important position of principles between theory and practice, and methodologically proceeds through philosophical conceptualisation. We recognise the guiding, dynamic, adjustable, durable, action-oriented, prescriptive and descriptive capabilities of principles, and emphasise their important capacity to facilitate abductive reasoning. We call for reflection upon the power of principles to strengthen the theoretical conceptualisation of Lean as well as upon their power to support improvement in practice.

Keywords

Theory, Lean Construction, process, principles, concepts

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Reference

Skaar, J. , Bølviken, T. , Koskela, L. & Kalsaas, B. T. 2020. Principles as a Bridge Between Theory and Practice, Proc. 28th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC) , 1-12. doi.org/10.24928/2020/0065

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