| Abstract | Despite the vast research on project success and sustainability, little is known about managing
project sustainability, particularly Hong Kong’s construction industry. Previous empirical
studies on construction project implementation success lack the ingredients of sustainability.
This sequential mixed methods research explores such a relationship from both project
maturity and process perspectives. The quantitative study on local construction project
managers identifies the status quo of project sustainability maturity. In addition, it identifies
sustainability success criteria and factors attributable to project implementation success. The
quantitative study results generate question for a subsequent qualitative e-Delphi study. The
follow-up e-Delphi study distinguishes the degree of impact related to economic
sustainability, environmental sustainability, and social sustainability on construction projects.
This study surveyed 55 local construction project managers and received consensus from 12
international experts in the field. First, the mixed methods study found that a discernible
construction project sustainability maturity level does not appear in the Hong Kong
construction industry. However, organisations generally value project sustainability. Second,
the study found four traditional success criteria to explain a majority of local construction
project implementation success. Third, two significant sustainability impact criteria
(economic and environmental constructs) contributed to local construction project
implementation success. However, criterion representing social sustainability impact was not
identified. Fourth, the traditional constituent success criterion for construction project
implementation success linked to certain sustainability impact elements. Fifth, the study
categorised important sustainability impact-related factors (economic: 3; environmental: 4;
and social: 3). Finally, e-Delphi experts believed that environmental sustainability was more
important than economic and/or social sustainability. This study contributes knowledge to researchers in the field. It also provides local construction project managers with management
practices in structuring sustainability-related success criteria and factors contributing to
project implementation success. Limitations of this study include not able to conduct
longitudinal study, limited judgmental sample size in the survey, clients and stakeholders’
view not being considered in the quantitative study, and that majority of the e-Delphi experts
in the qualitative study are not base in Hong Kong, etc. Such limitations may reduce the
reliability of the research findings. |
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