How Individual’s Proactive Behavior Helps Construction Sustainability: Exploring the Effects of Project Citizenship Behavior on Project Performance

Abstract

Sustainable development has been commonly identified as a vital target in the construction industry. Studies have examined different management strategies and procedures to promote resource utilization efficiency, while the human factors in sustainable construction have received far less attention. This paper investigates the influence of Project Citizenship Behavior (PCB) on project performance in the sustainable construction context. After introducing the concept of “relationship sustainability,” a moderating model is established. Data are collected from 152 experienced construction project managers in China. The results show positive relationships between most dimensions of Project Citizenship Behavior and construction sustainability performance, in spite of the negative effect of taking charge on relationship sustainability. Moreover, the degree of complexity of projects acts as a moderator in the relationship between Project Citizenship Behavior and construction sustainability performance. This paper endeavors to enrich the knowledge of sustainable construction by regarding human behavioral factors as important resources and explaining their effect on project sustainability, thus shedding light on the theory of sustainable construction by extending it to the micro-level analysis, as well as offering guidelines about how to raise the sustainability level of construction projects.

Does Project Citizenship Behavior Leads Network Expansion? Gender-Based Comparison

“…Most effects of PCB on project performance were positive (Guo et al, 2019), and we may say it has a strategic impact on interpersonal network based working. Therefore, identifying roots for PCB may another future research motivation.…”

“…Organizational compliance is a concept that includes behaviors related to guidelines, rules, and processes (Ferreira et al, 2013). In this context, project compliance is broadening of organizational compliance (Guo et al, 2019). “An employee who religiously obeys all rules and regulations, even when no one is watching, is regarded as an especially ‘good citizen’.” (Podsakoff et al, 2000, p. 524).…”

“…Trust can shape or expand the organization’s social network, thereby increasing potential future project opportunities (Ferreira et al, 2013; Huemann et al, 2007). “A higher level of project-based compliance leads to team members better obeying the operation procedures and regulations” (Guo et al, 2019, p. 14). Individuals with strong masculine management skills take an approach to have a high level of duty consciousness, to be a pioneer in initiating the structure through the development of roles and procedures, to clarify the roles of the leader and subordinates, and to facilitate the adaptation of team members to structures designed to provide high performance standards (Buckle & Thomas, 2003).…”

Sustainability in Construction Projects: A Systematic Literature Review

“…A semi-structured interview of 25 experienced project managers in Nigeria found additional barriers to sustainability in construction such as perceived high cost, limited transfer of know-how, unclear instructions on implementing sustainability, client requirements and specifications, resistance to change, errors in initiating the sustainable construction, and limited infrastructures and facilities [99]. Although many studies analyzed the impacts of macro-level sustainable strategies and technological advancement on increasing energy efficiency and recycling natural resources, the impacts of individual behavior on the sustainability performance of construction projects at the micro-level was also investigated [104]. They claimed that the sustainability performance of construction projects needed to be measured against "relationship sustainability", along with the iron triangle of time, cost, and quality.…”

“…Therefore, individual behavior and interpersonal relationships of construction project team members promote the sustainability performance of projects, especially when most technical indicators are not sufficient to accomplish the sustainability performance goal. On the other hand, project citizenship behavior of team members in more complex projects tend to influence the sustainability performance of the project more, as compared to the less complex projects [104].…”