Rethinking Construction

The Egan report, Rethinking Construction, was published in 1998. Twelve months previously Tony Blair had been elected as Prime Minister, bringing to an end 18 years of Conservative government. New Labour's political strategists were keen to demonstrate their business-friendly credentials, and to distance themselves from the old discredited Labour policies of nationalisation and demand management. Private sector management techniques were accorded an iconic status, and Sir John Egan gave flesh to New Labour's managerialist tendencies. The Egan report was a report like none other which had gone before. Minimal attempt was made to consult with the industry's representative bodies; this was unashamedly a clarion call for change from the industry's major clients. Great faith was placed in the lessons which could be learned from the automotive sector. The Egan report further emphasised the importance of performance measurement through the use of key performance indicators (KPIs).