Reviewing the Role of Sustainability Professionals in Construction
Book chapter, 2019
Purpose: This paper explores what is known in the body of literature on sustainability professionals in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry to support the formulation of research questions for future studies.
Design/Methodology/Approach: This was done through a systematic literature review in Scopus and Web of Science. In the literature search, 22 journal papers were selected to be included in the review because of their relevance to sustainability professionals, professional roles, and environmental practices in the AEC industry.
Findings: Key characteristics of the papers such as methodology and theory are mapped, followed by main findings on how the sustainability profession and sustainability professionals’ roles are studied within the body of literature. The review shows that the topic of sustainability professionals in the AEC industry is currently under-researched and under-theorized. Specifically, there is a lack of in-depth studies on sustainability professionals’ roles and agency.
Research limitations/implications: By providing an overview of the current literature on sustainability professionals in the AEC industry, it is possible to identify research gaps to formulate research questions for future studies.
Practical implications: This is important as collaboration between professions, including sustainability professionals, is believed to be key for a successful shift towards sustainability; furthering the understanding of sustainability professionals’ role is therefore central.
Originality/value: This paper is the first systematic literature review on sustainability professionals in the AEC industry.
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Design/Methodology/Approach: This was done through a systematic literature review in Scopus and Web of Science. In the literature search, 22 journal papers were selected to be included in the review because of their relevance to sustainability professionals, professional roles, and environmental practices in the AEC industry.
Findings: Key characteristics of the papers such as methodology and theory are mapped, followed by main findings on how the sustainability profession and sustainability professionals’ roles are studied within the body of literature. The review shows that the topic of sustainability professionals in the AEC industry is currently under-researched and under-theorized. Specifically, there is a lack of in-depth studies on sustainability professionals’ roles and agency.
Research limitations/implications: By providing an overview of the current literature on sustainability professionals in the AEC industry, it is possible to identify research gaps to formulate research questions for future studies.
Practical implications: This is important as collaboration between professions, including sustainability professionals, is believed to be key for a successful shift towards sustainability; furthering the understanding of sustainability professionals’ role is therefore central.
Originality/value: This paper is the first systematic literature review on sustainability professionals in the AEC industry.
AEC Industry
Experts
Literature review
Roles
Professionalization
Sustainability professionals
Author
Stina Månsson
Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Service Management and Logistics
Published in
Emerald Reach Proceedings Series
25162853 (eISSN)
Vol. 2 p. 393-399978-1-83867-051-1 (ISBN)
Research Project(s)
Professionalization and institutional change: a study of an emerging sustainability profession
Formas (942-2015-1372), 2016-01-01 -- 2019-12-31.
Categorizing
Driving Forces
Sustainable development
Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)
Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
Environmental Management
Identifiers
DOI
10.1108/S2516-285320190000002021