Organizational behavior attributes and sustainable construction adoption: An econometric analysis using data from Qatar

Abstract

Despite the efforts of governments to promote sustainable construction practices, the decision to adopt sustainability practices largely falls upon the firms involved in construction projects. This paper presents an econometric model that describes the relationship between the level of sustainability experience a firm possesses and its characteristics and behavioral attributes. Data for this research were collected in Qatar by means of a survey as part of a study that aimed to analyze the triggers of sustainability adoption in the Qatari construction market. The presented model showed that a number of behavioral attributes of firms, besides their origin and the average size of projects they undertake, determine the level of sustainability experience these firms might have. Examples include firms' risk-taking tendencies, their claimed competitive advantages, and their previous history of introducing changes to their modus operandi. This research adds to the body of knowledge on sustainable construction by studying its adoption from an organizational behavior perspective that focuses on factors internal to the firms. This complements existing literature that studies external triggers such as governmental policies.