Grosse, H (2022) Exploring sustainability and identities from an investor's perspective: An autoethnography. In: Tutesigensi, A and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 38th Annual ARCOM Conference, 5-7 September 2022, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
Abstract
Research has paid attention to the drivers and inhibitors of sustainable construction. However, how the tensions between different constraints and options are negotiated in practice needs further exploration. The role identification with sustainable construction plays within this process is still under-researched. Therefore, my autoethnographic exploration aims to better understand the connection between decisions regarding sustainable construction and the self-identification with sustainability. As a construction contractor, and more importantly as an investor, I investigate my fieldnotes and recollections during a project I realized in 2012/2013. I explore my decision-making and the role of my identification with sustainable construction to understand how my identification with sustainable construction influences my decisions about environmental, economic, and social aspects. I demonstrate how my identification with specific green solutions drives but also inhibits sustainable building. As the insights I offer come from my unique perspective as an investor, they are not generalizable but can provide insights into how identification with green building has an impact on decision-making. I show how apparently rational decisions are subjectively mitigated. Hence, I underline the importance of identification with sustainability to promote sustainable construction.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | autoethnography; ethics; practitioner research; sustainability |
| Index terms: | social aspect, investor, ethics, practitioner, decision-making, identity, sustainable building, exploration, sustainable construction, option, construction contractor, green building |
| Subjects: | sociology, sustainable construction, decision analysis, practitioner, design practice, ethical practice, environmental resource management |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Stakeholder Management, Design Practice, Research Practice, Risk Management, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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