This request is for the clearance of a survey instrument to assess the state of operational and organizational performance among homebuilding product manufacturers (both large and small) with regard to product development and innovations.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD's) Annual Performance Plan (APP) specifies six strategic goals. They are: (1) increase homeownership opportunities; (2) promote decent affordable housing; (3) strengthen communities; (4) ensure equal opportunities in housing; (5) embrace high standards of ethics, management, and accountability; and (6) promote the participation of faith based and community organizations. The advancement of new technological innovations for housing production has been viewed as a critical component of the homeownership goal. As a consequence, HUDÂs Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) has actively sought 3 programmatic goals in support of HUDÂs strategy, including: (1) study, reduce, and eliminate institutional barriers to technological innovation; (2) invest in collaborative technological research as well as improve the investment rate in housing research and development; and (3) improve the level of information and education regarding housing technology. Associated with each PATH goal are several strategic objectives, and these in turn are linked to specific desired outcomes, PATH activities, and needed inputs and resourcesÂall with individual measurable indicators.
The third PATH goal is particularly focused on the basic market research with regard to behaviors, motives, and practices surrounding innovation adoption and diffusion. Several of the most critical indicators for this PATH goal involve understanding both the level of manufacturer capacity for producing technological changes in housing, and whether that capacity actually translates into appropriate innovation in the market. Though both general industry knowledge and a variety of PATHÂs industry and policy roundtables, anecdotal evidence abounds that supports the idea that homebuilding product manufacturers bifurcate significantly in size and capacity. On one end, small manufacturers (with aggregate product market penetration rates of less than 10% and single market control rates of less than 30%) often have no resources to perform major development, prototyping, and commercialization. Further, they often are not even familiar with what those processes entail. As such, they cannot even estimate the amount of resources they need to acquire to fully develop and diffuse their innovations. Large manufacturers, on the other and seemingly obvious hand, have well-organized, interdisciplinary staffs to promote diffusion
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
12USC1701z1.doc
Survey of Homebuilding Product Manufacturers