Opoku, A and Ahmed, V (2014) Embracing sustainability practices in UK construction organizations: Challenges facing intra-organizational leadership. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 4(1), pp. 90-107. ISSN 2044-124X
Abstract
Purpose: Adopting sustainable construction practices minimizes the overall environmental impact of the built asset throughout its whole life. Currently, there is demand from key stakeholders in the construction industry for organization to deliver sustainable built environment, however, leaders/champions within construction organizations charged with the adoption of sustainable construction practices face many challenges. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of an investigation into the challenges facing intra-organizational leaders charged with the promotion of sustainable construction practices. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interview with 15 leaders, followed by an industry-wide survey of 200 intra-organizational leaders in contractor and consultant organizations in the UK construction industry. Findings: The results revealed that increased capital cost is the most significant challenge facing construction organizations in attempt to adopt sustainability practices in the delivery of construction projects. Originality/value: This study provides the empirical evidence linking leadership within construction organizations and sustainability; filling the gap in literature and serving as a source of reference material for higher education programmes in the built environment.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | challenges; construction organizations; sustainability practices; sustainable construction; UK |
| Index terms: | environmental impact, evidence, investigation, built environment, construction project, methodology, built asset, construction industry, promotion, capital cost, sustainable construction, sustainable construction practice, interview, construction organization, programme, higher education, survey, face |
| Subjects: | psychology, environmental impact, data collection methods, evaluation and assessment methods, organization, industry analysis, infrastructure and transport systems, project controls, asset management, educational institutions, production management, sustainable construction, management, research methods, accounting and finance |
| Topics: | Human Resources, Urban Studies, Time Control, Education, Organizational Design, Research Practice, Project Management, Business Strategy, 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