Stakeholder Power Dynamics, a Key to Sustainably Win the Sustainability Game in Construction

Abstract

Enhancing sustainability in construction is a challenging endeavour, as it requires close collaboration among multiple stakeholders within a turbulent environment. This challenge is further complicated by the existing power dynamics among these stakeholders. This study aims to explore the implications of stakeholder power dynamics for solutions designed to enhance construction sustainability. Through a review of peer-reviewed journals and conference literature, followed by thematic analysis of qualitative data, we found that stakeholder power dynamics substantially influence both the implementation and post-implementation phases of interventions intended to promote sustainability within construction projects. Additionally, the introduction of these initiatives often alters the dynamics of power within project networks, necessitating continuous monitoring and analysis of the power relationships among the stakeholders. Therefore, while it is crucial to assess how stakeholder power dynamics can inhibit or facilitate the implementation, it is equally important to understand how these power relationships will be affected post-implementation and how the new dynamics may impact the long-term sustainability of the solutions. Consequently, we identify stakeholder power dynamics as a key to sustainably win the sustainability game in construction.