An institutional analysis of how the construction industry's complexity affects waste: an alternative response to future market demands for sustainability

Lasse Fredslund*, Peter Højrup Søder, Ernst Jan de Place Hansen, Christian Koch

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceedingArticle in proceedingResearchpeer-review

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Abstract

As a main consumer of resources and an important economic driver, supranational authorities (UN/EU) are expecting the construction industry to address sustainability issues, making the construction process an extremely complex activity. A response to this complexity is often expressed through technologies, strategies, and organisations. However, the effect of waste, defects, and failures affecting both productivity and sustainability has increased due to e.g., tough competition, temporary exchanges, and individual utility maximisation. This has been discussed for many years, where knowledge on the institutional causes for waste is still needed to qualify and target future initiatives stressing the 'Build Back Wiser' theme. We analytically address the
waste phenomenon through a lens of institutional theory and a mixed-method inquiry; interviews, literature search and index data linking societal expectations and industry responses. We contribute with understandings on how strategic partnerships can be a response to supranational authorities and future market demands for sustainability .
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 38th Annual ARCOM Conference
EditorsApollo Tutesigensi, Chris J. Neilson
Number of pages10
Place of PublicationGlasgow, UK
PublisherAssociation of Researchers in Construction Management
Publication date2022
Pages612-621
ISBN (Electronic)978-0-9955463-6-3
Publication statusPublished - 2022
EventThe Association of Researchers in Construction Management Annual Conference 2022 : ARCOM 2022 - Glasgow, United Kingdom
Duration: 5 Sept 20227 Sept 2022
Conference number: 38

Conference

ConferenceThe Association of Researchers in Construction Management Annual Conference 2022 : ARCOM 2022
Number38
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityGlasgow
Period05/09/202207/09/2022

Bibliographical note

© ARCOM. All rights reserved

Keywords

  • Complexity
  • Partnerships
  • Productivity
  • Sustainability
  • Waste

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