Profitable Corporate Sustainability Strategies and Processes Achieve Competitive Advantage in the Construction Industry

Abstract

Many construction industry leaders are aware of a need for corporate sustainability practices. However, some construction industry managers lack strategies to integrate profitable corporate sustainability practices for competitive advantage. Eight senior/mid-level construction industry managers from eight different construction industry organizations participated in semi structured interviews. Three themes emerged: 1) systems thinking leads to competitive advantage, 2) motivating and nurturing buy-in through learning and engagement activities, with expressions of thankfulness, and 3) gaining profitability through corporate sustainability measurement systems. The key recommendation for construction industry managers is to use the Czelusniak-Serviss Profitable Corporate Sustainability Business Model to achieve competitive advantage.