Short answer
Designers and project leaders should implement structured methods for stakeholder consultation and integrate comprehensive social sustainability training into project planning and execution.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- Frontiers in Built Environment (2022)
- Method
- Qualitative research with quantitative analysis of rankings.
- Sample
- 15 participants
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Construction projects often fall short of their social sustainability goals due to a significant disconnect between perceived importance and actual implementation, particularly concerning stakeholder involvement and education. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2022 study published in Frontiers in Built Environment. Using Qualitative research with quantitative analysis of rankings. with 15 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers and project leaders should implement structured methods for stakeholder consultation and integrate comprehensive social sustainability training into project planning and execution.
Bridging the Social Sustainability Gap in Construction: Practitioner Perception vs. Project Reality
Construction projects often fall short of their social sustainability goals due to a significant disconnect between perceived importance and actual implementation, particularly concerning stakeholder involvement and education.
Frontiers in Built Environment · 2022
Key Findings
- 01Practitioners confirmed nine main components of social sustainability in construction: safety and health; impact assessment; employment; stakeholder involvement; satisfaction; quality education; social procurement; design protection/belonging; and human rights.
- 02The largest gap between perception and practice was found in stakeholder involvement, indicating a need for more proactive engagement.
- 03Education and training attributes require immediate attention due to their perceived importance and the identified gap in practice.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers and project leaders should implement structured methods for stakeholder consultation and integrate comprehensive social sustainability training into project planning and execution.
How to apply
When initiating a design project, conduct thorough stakeholder mapping and establish clear communication channels. Develop a training plan that addresses identified social sustainability gaps relevant to the project team.
Project actions
- 01When researching user needs, don't just ask what people *think* is important; observe what they *actually* do or what is realistically achievable.
- 02Identify potential gaps between user expectations and your design's practical implementation and plan how to address them.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a structured framework for social sustainability in construction.
- +Identifies specific areas requiring intervention (stakeholder involvement, education).
Limitations
The sample size of 15 practitioners might limit the generalizability of the findings. The study also relies on self-reported perceptions and practices, which can be subject to bias.
Reliability & validity
The study's validity is supported by the confirmation of attributes through practitioner interviews. Reliability could be enhanced by using multiple interviewers or more standardized questioning techniques. The quantitative ranking adds a layer of objective data to subjective perceptions.
Think critically
How can designers proactively identify and mitigate the gap between perceived user needs and the practical realities of design implementation in their projects?
Design Principles
"Actively involve all relevant stakeholders and ensure adequate training to align project practices with social sustainability goals."
Understanding this perception-practice gap is crucial for designers and project managers to develop effective strategies for integrating social sustainability. Addressing these discrepancies can lead to more equitable, safe, and community-benefiting built environments.
What This Means for Your Design
In building projects, what people think is important for social good (like involving the community) doesn't always happen in real life. We need to do more to make sure these good intentions become real actions, especially by talking to people more and teaching the workers better.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the importance of user research that goes beyond surface-level opinions, exploring the practical realities of implementation.
- 2.Reference the identified gap between perception and practice to explain why certain user needs might not be met without specific interventions.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This study by Kordi et al. (2022) demonstrates a critical gap between the perceived importance of social sustainability attributes in construction projects and their actual implementation, particularly concerning stakeholder involvement and education. This highlights the necessity for design projects to move beyond theoretical ideals and develop concrete strategies to bridge such perception-practice divides, ensuring that user-centred goals are effectively realized in practice.
Source
Frontiers in Built Environment
Social sustainability in construction projects: Perception versus reality and the gap-filling strategies
journal · 2022
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about bridging the social sustainability gap in construction: practitioner perception vs. project reality?
- Designers and project leaders should implement structured methods for stakeholder consultation and integrate comprehensive social sustainability training into project planning and execution. Evidence: Frontiers in Built Environment (2022).
- Why does "Bridging the Social Sustainability Gap in Construction: Practitioner Perception vs. Project Reality" matter for design?
- Understanding this perception-practice gap is crucial for designers and project managers to develop effective strategies for integrating social sustainability. Addressing these discrepancies can lead to more equitable, safe, and community-benefiting built environments.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers and project leaders should implement structured methods for stakeholder consultation and integrate comprehensive social sustainability training into project planning and execution.
- What were the main findings?
- Practitioners confirmed nine main components of social sustainability in construction: safety and health; impact assessment; employment; stakeholder involvement; satisfaction; quality education; social procurement; design protection/belonging; and human rights.. The largest gap between perception and practice was found in stakeholder involvement, indicating a need for more proactive engagement.. Education and training attributes require immediate attention due to their perceived importance and the identified gap in practice.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative research with quantitative analysis of rankings. with 15 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2022 journal from Frontiers in Built Environment.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When initiating a design project, conduct thorough stakeholder mapping and establish clear communication channels. Develop a training plan that addresses identified social sustainability gaps relevant to the project team.
- What are the limitations?
- The study's findings are based on the perceptions and experiences of a specific group of practitioners in construction projects, which may not be universally generalizable to all contexts or industries.