Czelusniak-Serviss, C J (2023) Construction industry: Profitable corporate sustainability strategies and processes achieve competitive advantage. DBA thesis, Walden University, USA.
Abstract
Some construction industry managers lack strategies to integrate corporate sustainability strategies and processes for competitive advantage, which causes limited profitability. Grounded in the general systems theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore corporate sustainability strategies and processes senior and mid-level construction industry managers use to achieve competitive advantage in the United States. The participants were eight senior/mid-level construction industry managers from eight different construction industry organizations with at least five years of experience in the construction industry who utilized corporate sustainability strategies and processes. Data were collected using semistructured interviews. Three themes emerged using thematic analysis: systems thinking leading to competitive advantage; motivating and nurturing buy-in through learning and engagement activities, with expressions of thankfulness; and gaining profitability through corporate sustainability measurement systems. The key recommendation for construction industry managers is to incorporate bike infrastructure with helmets for everybody and guaranteed rides home to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The implications for positive social change include the potential to enhance sustainable housing opportunities for a new generation of consumers.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Samora, D L and Anthony, P J |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | United States; case study; competitive advantage; learning; measurement; sustainability; systems theory; systems thinking; thematic analysis |
| Index terms: | strategy, United States, manager, interview, systems thinking, systems theory, greenhouse gas emission, thematic analysis, competitive advantage, case study, construction industry, sustainable housing, profitability |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, environmental health, industry analysis, methods and analysis, management, economic analysis, analytical methods, practitioner, market analysis, housing and residential development, Geography, theoretical framing |
| Topics: | Urban Studies, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Geographical Context, Sustainability |
| 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