Watts, G (2023) No winter for social value: The continued growth of a value focused construction industry. In: Tutesigensi, A and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 39th Annual ARCOM Conference, 4-6 September 2023, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Abstract
The focus on social value (SV) in construction procurement has evolved to challenge the historic triumvirate of time, cost, and quality. How contractors engage with SV is often the difference between successful and unsuccessful tenders. However, in an industry often criticised as having a traditional mindset, combined with contemporary global unrest, rising inflation rates, and material and labour shortages, the problem exists that the modern SV focus of the construction industry could halt if clients shift to a cost focus due to economic pressures. This research aims to establish if the current economic climate is having a negative impact on SV requirements. Interviews with eighteen diverse stakeholders reveal that far from the adverse economic climate serving to dampen SV enthusiasm, the current and anticipated demand for SV in the construction industry is increasing. It appears the worse the economic outlook for the UK, the greater part SV will play in construction procurement. All contractors it appears, need to be aware of the persistent growing need to focus on SV in construction now more than ever.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | procurement; narrative analysis; economic performance; business responsibility |
| Index terms: | labour shortage, construction procurement, social value, inflation, narrative, construction industry, interview, winter, mindset |
| Subjects: | climate science, health behaviours and lifestyles, data collection methods, economic analysis, contractual arrangements, qualitative and interpretive research, economics, industry analysis, sociology |
| Topics: | Urban Studies, Supply Chain Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Procurement, Sustainability |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 CTEA |
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