Babalola, A and Harinarain, N (2024) Policy barriers to sustainable construction practice in the Nigerian construction industry: An exploratory factor analysis. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 22(1), pp. 214-234. ISSN 1726-0531
Abstract
Purpose: Sustainable construction practice is structured on regulatory and non-regulatory policies in developed and most developing countries. With the gradual uptake of sustainability concerns in the construction industry, this paper aims to identify the strategic need for clear-cut policies to improve sustainable construction practice. Previous studies have harped on the need for regulatory and industrial/organisational policies on improving sustainable construction practice within the Nigerian construction industry. Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire survey was used to evaluate the perspectives of construction professionals on the policy barriers for sustainable construction practice in Nigeria, and 46 policy barriers were identified. A total of 249 questionnaires were returned and useable for analysis. Findings: Factor analysis revealed four clusters in the policy barriers to sustainable construction practice in the following order of significance: implementation strategies for sustainable construction practice, owners/client inputs for sustainable construction practice, stakeholder’s policy barriers and governmental and regulatory policy barriers. Practical implications: Mitigating the identified barriers through effective policies will require adequate inputs from all relevant policymaking stakeholders and ensure improved sustainable construction practice among stakeholders and policymakers in the industry. This will in turn set a high standard and promote the practice of sustainable construction. Originality/value: This study goes a step further in identifying the policy issues needed to ensure a smooth implementation of sustainable construction practice. The research findings will serve as a guide for policymakers in developing countries that through mitigation of the identified barriers, sustainable construction practice will be promoted.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction; implementation; policies; strategies; sustainability |
| Index terms: | developing country, exploratory factor analysis, sustainable construction practice, sustainable construction, strategy, survey, methodology, mitigation, questionnaire, owner, Nigeria, construction professional, factor analysis, construction industry, implementation |
| Subjects: | industry analysis, statistical analysis, sociology, Geography, financial risk, sustainable construction, development economics, professional development, management, research methods, contractual arrangements, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Stakeholder Management, Sustainability, Procurement, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Information Management, Geographical Context, Research Practice, International Construction |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here