Valdes-Vasquez, R and Klotz, L E (2013) Social sustainability considerations during planning and design: Framework of processes for construction projects. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(1), pp. 80-89. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
This research identifies 50 processes and categorizes them into a framework for integrating and evaluating social considerations in construction projects. These processes focus on the planning and design phases because they offer the greatest potential for influencing project performance. The concept mapping research method was applied to develop this framework on the basis of input from 25 experts in academia, industry, and government. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analyses were used to organize the experts' input into six categories defining social sustainability in construction projects: stakeholder engagement, user considerations, team formation, management considerations, impact assessment, and place context. Although previous research has recognized social sustainability as a series of processes, this study is the first to integrate them into a comprehensive framework. Practitioners can benefit from this framework, which will enhance existing sustainability assessment methods and help address the challenge of developing truly sustainable projects. This framework also provides academics with a tool for introducing students to social sustainability in construction projects. Future research could use this framework as a baseline, developing metrics using the processes included in the framework.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction; design; planning; safety; social factors; sustainable development |
| Index terms: | scaling, social sustainability, project performance, stakeholder engagement, design phase, academia, social factor, concept mapping, cluster analysis, construction project, practitioner, impact assessment, sustainable development, sustainability assessment |
| Subjects: | professional practice, data analysis and analytics, community and social dimensions, value management, practitioner, organization, communities and social development, sociology, decision analysis, educational institutions, project management theory and practice, production management, health safety and environment, sustainability assessment |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions, Risk Management, Project Management, Research Practice, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Education, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCA |
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