Investigating the barriers facing corporate social responsibility in the built environment: Ghana’s perspective from a qualitative approach

Abstract

Purpose Several organisations dedicate a portion of their budget and business websites to corporate social responsibility (CSR) events. This illustrates the significance attached to CSR events. In Ghana, a social disconnection may exist between the community and the construction sector. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the benefits of CSR in the construction industry, the implementation challenges and measures to enhance CSR in the Ghanaian built environment.Design/methodology/approach The qualitative technique was adopted using an extensive review of literature supported by structured interviews and analysed by context analysis. The participants include ministry and municipal directors, contractor associations, unions and institutions of engineers. The study achieved saturation.Findings Findings reveal that the construction industry’s CSR impacts the community’s social behaviour and has economic and environmental significance. The absence of government implementation policy and finance constraints were identified as Ghana’s major CSR implementation challenges. Also, besides the government instituting a mandatory policy on CSR in the industry, findings suggest that stakeholders, especially players in the industry and policymakers, should form an integral part of the CSR decisions.Practical implications Findings will support and recommend holistic measures to mitigate CSR implementation hindrances and encourage CSR via a central government's mandatory policy in the Ghanaian built environment.Originality/value Besides most studies used questionnaires, the contribution deduced shows that construction companies' management could use the knowledge from this study and involve all the relevant stakeholders when undertaking CSR activities. Also, the study would fill the scarcity of relevant materials concerning CSR in Ghanaian construction sector.

Assessing corporate social responsibility in South Africa’s built environment industry

“…For others, refer to Table 3. Findings agree with Mersham andSkinner (2016), Duman et al (2016), Zhang et al (2019), Dawar and Singh (2021) and Aigbavboa et al (2024). Mersham and Skinner (2016) found a lack of information as a key factor hampered CSR.…”

“…Findings agree with Buhmann (2006), Perry (2012), Samy et al (2015) and Aigbavboa et al (2024). Buhmann (2006) found that CSR affects more than just the business and the stakeholders.…”

“…It is the way an organisation can accomplish profitability and social responsibility. Also, CSR has accomplished raising awareness of the significance of ethical and socially responsible business conduct in the consciousness of business operators' and the masses (Claydon, 2011;Aigbavboa et al, 2024). Ranangen et al (2014) found improved health and safety policy and practices at the workplace, improved staff involvement and training, promotion of good health in the host communities, material and financial support to the communities and community awareness of their environmental right as merits of CSR.…”

“…Claydon (2011) identified four aspects of CSR (organisational culture, financial performance, society and environment). Claydon (2011) and Aigbavboa et al (2024) emphasised that besides CSR making profitable companies socially responsible to their environment; it has accomplished raising the awareness of the significance of ethical and socially responsible business conduct in the consciousness of business operators' and the masses. Abugre and Nyuur (2015) found that CSR initiatives are corporate donations aimed at capacity building for sustainable livelihoods.…”

“…Dawar and Singh (2021) discovered a lack of expertise and understanding as factors that may hinder managers from implementing CSR initiatives. Also, Aigbavboa et al (2024) found non-familiarity with CSR outcomes, lax government attitude towards an enabling environment, low awareness of CSR-related programmes by stakeholders, absence of a structured framework and inadequate funds for CSR projects as the top-ranked barriers facing CSR implementation in the industry. Aigbavboa et al (2024) research focused on Ghana and adopted a qualitative approach.…”