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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 38664

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Kerry London

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Guest Editor

Research Office, Torrens University Australia, Sydney, NSW 2117, Australia
Interests: supply chain theory and practice; technology adoption (including BIM, robotics, off site manufacturing); ethical behaviour; the business of collaborative practice; social science research methodologies

Prof. Dr. Jian Zuo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Architecture & Built Environment, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
Interests: construction and demolition waste recycling; green building; energy policy; stakeholder engagement; competitiveness; housing quality; smart construction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Zelinna Pablo

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Guest Editor

Research Office, Torrens University Australia, Sydney, NSW 2117, Australia
Interests: human and organizational factors; sociomateriality; collaboration in supply chains; ethical behaviour; supply chain performance beyond efficiency (quality, safety)

Dr. Ruidong Chang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Architecture & Built Environment, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
Interests: sustainable construction; green building information modelling; technology assessment, industry competition and market dynamics of sustainable construction technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainability is excited to issue this call for review papers for a Special Issue. We invite systematic reviews and empirical research on a topic within the domain of Industry 4.0 Sustainability Construction Project Management, with specific alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development goals. Papers may draw on thematic areas and related subject areas, which may include, but are not limited to the following areas:

changing nature of project management to create an innovative and resilient built environment sector to adapt to new ways of living and working;
new digital approaches and innovative project management techniques to support Construction 4.0 to address sustainability in a rapidly changing world;
application of digital technologies to achieve project environmental and social sustainability goals;
project management sustainable capacity building in educational institutions, government, business and not for profit organisations;
human factors, organizational and social analysis of practices and interactions that can support environmental, social and economic sustainability;
educating for ethical considerations for sustainability;
niche market nurturing and social-technical transitions towards digital and sustainable construction;
responsible construction project management to reduce consumption and production in a circular economy;
design and project management for monitoring, analysis and simulation for environmental, social and economic sustainability;
digital collaboration, data management and visualisation for sustainable outcomes;
linkages between Construction 4.0 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals;
digitalization project management strategies to achieve carbon neutrality in building and community scale.

Prof. Dr. Kerry London
Prof. Dr. Jian Zuo
Dr. Zelinna Pablo
Dr. Ruidong Chang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

digital resilience
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
circular economy
socio-technical cyber-security
sustainability

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 482 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Healthier Construction: Conceptualising Transformation of Mental Health Outcomes through an Integrated Supply Chain Model

by Kerry Anne London, Tanya Meade and Craig McLachlan

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9460; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159460 - 2 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2570

Abstract

The construction industry is undoubtedly one of the most significant global sectors that contributes to sustainable development across physical, social, environmental and economic objectives. Globally the value of the construction industry is USD 10 trillion annually. The robustness of the sector is in serious question with a crisis in mental health. The rebuilding of economies is often led by significant capital works programs and therefore in response to the global pandemic, it is anticipated that this problem will only be exacerbated. The construction sector has a unique project-based structure of numerous intersecting subsectors, which influence the behaviours and culminate in highly demanding work environments on a project-by-project basis. We propose that to institute transformational change to the mental health problem, we need to challenge current problematisations towards presenting a new conceptual framework. The aim of this paper is to analyse the industrial organisation and the structural and behavioural context of the industry and propose a new approach to understanding interactions at multiple levels in relation to root causes of the mental health problem. Aligned to the UN SDG that we are to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, this paper responds to high rates of depression, anxiety and suicide in the construction industry. There is a need to generate new knowledge about the interactions between multi project supply chain, construction project supply chain environment and construction supply chain performance in relation to mental health outcomes. Literature indicates that there is a wealth of research on stressors, coping and interventions at an individual level, however very little from an ‘insider’ construction management perspective which contextualise mental health outcomes with the environmental stressors. Coupled with this, past research designs predominantly utilised quantitative approaches reliant on questionnaires. We critique past problematisations of the mental health problem and show how it has been represented to enable the development of a reframed conceptualisation. There is a need to identify contextual evidence-based stressors throughout the construction project supply chain. We present a transformational change model integrating construction industry specific context knowledge with psychosocial expertise to improve workers’ mental health. Future research could lead to outcomes including recommendations and guidelines to engage management actors who can influence positive change through preventative strategies leading to effective and measurable mental health and project performance improvements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 for Sustainable Construction Project Management)

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12 pages, 1218 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Sustainable Digital Currency Exchange Platforms Using Analytic Models

by Claire Davison, Peyman Akhavan, Tony Jan, Neda Azizi, Somayeh Fathollahi, Nastaran Taheri, Omid Haass and Mukesh Prasad

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5822; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105822 - 11 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3158

Abstract

This study presents an analytic model to support the general public in evaluating digital currency exchange platforms. Advances in technologies have offered profitable opportunities, but the general public has difficulty accessing appropriate information on digital currency exchange platforms to facilitate their investments and trading. This study aims to provide a decision support system using analytic models that will guide the public in deciding the appropriate digital currency exchange platform for trading and investment. The overarching objective is to support the public in embracing the new era of a dependable, trustworthy, and sustainable digital society. Particularly, this study offers an analytics model that compares numerous well-known digital currency exchange platforms based on the opinions of 34 human expert members on six main criteria to identify the most suitable platform. In this study, the analytic hierarchy process approach, which is a multiple-criteria decision-making method, and Expert Choice software were used for decision support. Using pairwise comparisons of exchanges with respect to the criteria in the software, the weight of each exchange was determined, and these weights became the basis for prioritizing the exchange platform. This study provides valuable insight into how an analytics-driven expert system can support the public in selecting their digital currency exchange platform. This work is an integral part of an effort to help disruptive digital technology become widely accepted by the general public. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 for Sustainable Construction Project Management)

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21 pages, 1696 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Blockchain Technology: Potential Applications for Public Sector E-Procurement and Project Management

by Malik Khalfan, Neda Azizi, Omid Haass, Tayyab Maqsood and Istiaq Ahmed

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5791; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105791 - 10 May 2022

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 7530

Abstract

Project implementations normally fail due to sustainable development problems that inhibit the usage levels required to facilitate successful implementations. This paper explores the successful implementation from a Bangladesh perspective. In particular, it identifies the possible applications of Blockchain in project procurement and management, and it develops a guideline for incorporating Blockchain into project management to improve the existing project and the procurement management practices in developing countries. This is a qualitative study with an interpretivist research methodology. By adopting an interpretive approach, this study construes knowledge as that only gained through social constructions, such as language, shared meanings, documents, industry reports, reviews of academic papers, and tools; it is a changing and relative phenomenon. This study reveals that developing countries are suffering in terms of the development of projects, including poor project management, a lack of transparency, poor procurement management, etc. A total of 38 issues were identified through this study, which are the main barriers to the successful implementation of public sector projects. One of the main reasons is due to the practice of awarding the lowest bidder during the procurement process due to the current regulatory requirements. This paper found that the Oracle platform, built on Blockchain technology as a cloud-computing platform, is one of the prominent E-procurement platforms that provides both the Blockchain platform and the cloud-based applications. Therefore, after observing and analysing the platform, it is found that Blockchain technology has the capability to resolve 25 issues out of 38 identified issues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 for Sustainable Construction Project Management)

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15 pages, 267 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Students’ Workplace Readiness: Assessment and Skill-Building for Graduate Employability

by Sara Siddique, Ali Ahsan, Neda Azizi and Omid Haass

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1749; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031749 - 3 Feb 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 8470

Abstract

This study introduces a new approach for the competence development of the socio-technical aspect. The curriculum of the Project Management (PM) course taught in degree programs concentrates largely on imparting technical knowledge. Current research seeks to direct the attention of the PM curriculum towards Personal Competencies as well. PM studies not only require a project to be carried out successfully but also expect students to demonstrate certain personal competencies, behaviors, and traits to effectively lead the project team. This research seeks to inform action and yield pertinent knowledge and instructional material around the desired personal competence. This study adopts an exploratory and (educational) action research approach with a quantitative mode of inquiry. The first of the four phases of this study comprises an action-based approach to find out which Personal Competence is essential for PM students. The second phase is of further follow-ups with the research subjects that indicate their lack of understanding of the PM personal competencies. The next phase employs a second survey showing that the Communication Skills of research subjects need work. The last phase offers a comprehensive training plan around the required competence, a training evaluation tool, a competence assessment exam, and tools for training and trainer feedback. The findings of this research bear immense implications for PM competence building and curriculum. The practical contribution of the study offers a way to prepare the graduates for ready employability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 for Sustainable Construction Project Management)

20 pages, 302 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability through Resilient Collaborative Housing Networks: A Case Study of an Australian Pop-Up Shelter

by Zelinna Pablo and Kerry London

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1271; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031271 - 24 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2729

Abstract

The UN Sustainable Development Goal “Sustainable Cities and Communities” foregrounds access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing. However, housing as a sector has faced significant sustainability challenges. Countries such as Australia face unaffordable house prices, bottlenecks in social housing supply, and escalating homelessness. To address these challenges, the sector has turned to traditional government-led interventions meant to influence supply and demand. We argue that alongside these traditional approaches, there is a need for multi-stakeholder collaboration in resilient networks that create novel niche solutions, one being pop-up shelters or dwellings established in vacant structures. This study’s main aim is to identify key elements of these resilient, collaborative actor–networks. We mobilise actor–network theory concepts in a qualitative case study involving one of Australia’s first pop-up shelters. Findings from semi-structured interviews suggest that resilient networks exhibit distributed leadership, the ability to selectively interrogate entrenched routines, and the ability to mobilise differentiated levels of convergence. Such resilient networks play an important role in the development of environmentally and socially sustainable housing solutions. While often ad hoc, these networks can be made systematic through the selective use of digital technologies which do not compromise the more contingent, adaptive features of networks which are critical to resilience. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 for Sustainable Construction Project Management)

16 pages, 430 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Factors Affecting Sustainable Human Resource Productivity in Railway Lines

by Neda Azizi, Peyman Akhavan, Maryam Philsoophian, Claire Davison, Omid Haass and Shazi Saremi

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 225; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010225 - 26 Dec 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4217

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the critical factors and items affecting the productivity of sustainable human resources in a Railway Operation Company based on the perceptions of employees and managers in the Human Resources Department. The study was motivated by research which was applied in terms of the objectives of the study and a descriptive survey was employed as the method. The statistical population of the current study consisted of all employees and managers of the Human Resources Department of the company. Random sampling was employed to collect data and the sample size was 191 people according to Morgan’s Table. Methods including the correlation coefficient, multivariate regression, and factor analysis were employed for data analysis. The findings highlight the main factors and items affecting labor productivity in the Urban and Suburban Railway Operation Company as perceived by the Human Resources Department, which were mainly related to human resources management and could be attributed to motivation and requirements for their effective contribution to the improvement of public welfare. Organizational Attitude and Culture, Leadership Style, and Bonus and Ergonomics were extracted as factors affecting productivity or as independent variables. This study is the first study that has aimed to discuss the perceptions of the Human Resources Department active in a company. As such, the study highlights the standpoint of the main decision makers in the Urban and Suburban Railway Operation Company with regard to labour productivity in the urban and suburban sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 for Sustainable Construction Project Management)

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25 pages, 1483 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leveraging Smart Contract in Project Procurement through DLT to Gain Sustainable Competitive Advantages

by Evin Özkan, Neda Azizi and Omid Haass

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13380; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313380 - 3 Dec 2021

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 5339

Abstract

Project delivery on time, with agreed quality and assigned budget, is the desire of project-based companies. Time, quality, and cost are determinants of project success; however, organisations suffer from achieving these three success criteria at the same time. Failures in project delivery cause the loss of the competitive advantage. The recent digital technologies introduce smart contracts to supply chain (SC) operations for improving SC processes. Project procurement is the area for smart contract implementation to deliver successful projects and gain sustainable competitive advantages. The aim of this study was in explaining how smart contracts benefit project organisations through project procurement. Qualitative research design guided this research with phenomenology. Semi-structured interviews generated the data. The obtained research data were analysed with thematic, textual, and discourse analysis. Published industry reports were used to triangulate the data. This study demonstrated an integrated relationship model to answer the research question. The research findings initially identified the fact that smart contracts improve procurement efficiency through cost, time, and quality. Secondly, smart contracts build a trust-less platform where reliability is delivered and reinforced with transparency, traceability, and security. This study found that enhanced procurement efficiency and reliability meet requirements to gain sustainable competitive advantages. This study intends to contribute to industry practices and future research. The correlation of project procurement management success, smart contracts, and sustainable competitive advantages are expected to guide feature research and business practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 for Sustainable Construction Project Management)

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25 pages, 1389 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Actor–Network Approach to Developing a Life Cycle BIM Maturity Model (LCBMM)

by Ruwini Edirisinghe, Zelinna Pablo, Chimay Anumba and Saratu Tereno

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13273; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313273 - 30 Nov 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2815

Abstract

Building information modelling (BIM) has considerable potential for addressing sustainability issues in construction, but its benefits can be constrained by the failure to adopt BIM across the full project life cycle. Systematic whole-of-life BIM adoption can be supported by maturity models, but most models are limited by a lack of theoretical grounding, socio-technical dichotomies and the failure to adequately consider the full asset life cycle, often by overlooking the operations phase. This study aims to (1) develop a BIM maturity model that addresses these limitations by (2) using an in-depth analysis of an early adopter case study, thus addressing the lack of empirical research in BIM adoption experiences. A single interpretive research study was conducted to qualitatively analyse a US-based university. The data were gathered through interviews, field visits and document analysis. Actor–network theory (ANT) concepts scaffolded the analytical approach. The findings show that a complex BIM socio-technical network emerged, developed and converged during the project management stage but struggled to achieve durability as an ongoing solution to facilities management. By analysing the elements of success and failure across each stage, the researchers distilled five key lessons to achieve whole-of-life BIM maturity and proposed a life cycle BIM maturity model (LCBMM) supported by a practice guide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 for Sustainable Construction Project Management)

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