Nandun Madhusanka Hewa, W; Pan, W and Kumaraswamy, M (2021) Social network analysis applications in sustainable construction and built environment management: A review. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 11(4), pp. 511-528. ISSN 2044-124X
Abstract
Applications of social network analysis (SNA) are evidently popular amongst scholars for mapping stakeholder and other relational networks in improving the sustainability of construction activities and the resulting built environment. Nevertheless, the literature reveals a lack of thorough understanding of optimal SNA applications in this field. Therefore, this paper aims to convey a comprehensive critical review of past applications of SNA in this field. 95 relevant journal papers were initially identified from the "Web of Science" database and a bibliometric analysis was carried out using the "VOS Viewer" software. The subsequent in-depth review of the SNA methods, focussed on 24 specifically relevant papers selected from these aforesaid 95 papers. A significant growth of publications in this field was identified after 2014, especially related to topics on stakeholder management. "Journal of Cleaner Production", "International Journal of Project Management" and "Sustainability" were identified as the most productive sources in this field, with the majority of publications from China. Interviews and questionnaires were the popular data collection methods while SNA "Centrality" measures were utilised in over 70% of the studies. Furthermore, potential areas were noted, to improve the mapping and thereby provide useful information to managers who could influence relevant networks and consequentially better sustainability outcomes, including those enhanced by collaborative networks. Closer collaboration has been found to help enhance sustainability in construction and built environment, hence attracting research interest amongst scholars on how best to enable this. SNA is established as a significant methodological approach to analysing interrelationships and collaborative potential in general. In a pioneering application here, this paper initiates the drawing together of findings from relevant literature to provide useful insights for future researchers to comprehensively identify, compare and contrast the applications of SNA techniques in construction and built environment management from a sustainability viewpoint.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | social network analysis; sustainability; collaboration; bibliometrics; network analysis; climate change; knowledge management; sociology; information management; performance management |
| Index terms: | bibliometric analysis, database, journal, science, construction activity, social network analysis, sociology, drawing, sustainable construction, manager, performance management, network analysis, interview, publication, climate change, project management, knowledge management, China, stakeholder management, built environment, bibliometrics, questionnaire, mapping, collaboration |
| Subjects: | social theory, Geography, professional development, project management theory and practice, sustainable construction, management, performance measurement, spatial and geospatial analysis, research methods, infrastructure and transport systems, data management, research evaluation and metrics, specialized education, climate science, practitioner, data collection methods, research dissemination and communication, participation process, construction operations, data analysis and analytics, technical documentation |
| Topics: | Urban Studies, Digital Applications, Design Practice, Quality Management, Education, Site Management, Organizational Design, Information Management, Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context, Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management, 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