The construction process is believed to have problems. The causes suspected and their solutions have been put forward, but the problems in the construction process have not disappeared. The primary aim of this article is to show that many of the problems perceived are interlinked in a system and that this is one of the reasons that the solutions have not had the expected impact. A systems approach, with reinforcing and balancing causal loop diagrams, has been used to show this. A secondary aim is to give some recommendations for the improvement of the construction process. The article first investigates how to fulfil the goals of a project and solve the problems perceived of the construction process. The main findings are that the systems approach gives a useful understanding of the interconnections between some of the perceived problems and that in some cases it is not enough to change only the most obvious cause of the problem. The causal loop diagrams clearly show that the reinforcing loops are balanced by balancing loops. These are good as they will hinder negative reinforcing loops from becoming vicious, but bad as they may hinder a positive development of the reinforcing loops.

Innovations in construction materials and components are made without being integrated with other materials and components. It is not even enough with innovations only in construction materials and components. This paper is mainly a literature study of research regarding Complex Product Systems (CoPS) and the construction process. The construction process can be compared with theories concerning another context, as in the case of theories of CoPS. According to theory, one problem in a construction process is that solving single issues is not adequate as the required result is often influenced by other issues, confounding the expected outcome. CoPS focuses on system design, knowledge transfer, cross co-operation interactions and communication, and skills and knowledge. It is necessary that these focus work well to achieve an innovation process. Using traditional forms of cooperation, these areas often pose problems in the construction process. The forms of co-operation, which have greater potential than others, are those that do not separate design from production.