LEADERSHIP IN CONSTRUCTION ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

misbe2011 Tracking Number 28

The construction industry is a very important sector in achieving society’s sustainable development goals; however the change towards sustainability is a process that presents a leadership challenge. Construction organizations need leadership that provide the collective vision, strategy and direction towards the common goal of a sustainable future. The aim of this paper is to critically examine the role, drivers and factors affecting leadership in the effective implementation of sustainable practices in construction organizations. A review of relevant literature and preliminary qualitative results from an in-depth interview with eight (8) leaders in United Kingdom construction consultant organizations, including sustainability directors, managers and consultants is presented. The analysis of the collected qualitative data revealed that, the leadership role in promoting sustainability in construction organizations include the development of strategies and the formulation of policies. A major driver for construction organizations to pursue sustainability is to win more business, while increased capital cost for sustainability is still a major challenge to many organizations. This study establishes the basis for further investigation in an on-going doctorial level research on the role of leadership in promoting sustainable construction practices. Keywords: Construction organization, leadership, leadership style, sustainable practice