Research Proposal: Sustainable Construction Management Impact Study

This research proposal investigates the impact of sustainable construction management on project timelines, focusing on a case study of Balfour Beatty. The introduction provides background information on sustainable construction, its practices, and the challenges faced, such as higher costs and bureaucratic processes. The rationale highlights a gap in the literature regarding the impact of sustainable construction management barriers on project timelines. The proposal outlines the research aim to identify this impact and sets objectives to understand sustainable construction concepts, analyze its implementation, and assess its effects on project timelines. The methodology employs a positivism research philosophy, deductive approach, survey strategy, quantitative research choice, and a cross-sectional time horizon, using both primary and secondary data collection methods. Anticipated findings are discussed, followed by a time scale and working program. The report concludes by summarizing the importance of sustainable construction and its effect on project timelines.

Research Proposal
(To identify the impact of sustainable
construction management and its impact
upon project timeline)

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Background of the research.........................................................................................................1
Rationale......................................................................................................................................1
Research Aim...............................................................................................................................4
Research Objectives.....................................................................................................................4
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................5
ANTICIPATED FINDINGS...........................................................................................................7
TIME SCALE AND WORKING PROGRAMME.........................................................................8
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Background of the research
Sustainable construction management described as mixture of sustainable construction
practices and sustainable building materials for reducing waste and its impact on environment.
Many construction companies are focusing on sustainable construction due to which they faces
various challenges such as higher costs of sustainable building process as well as materials,
construction process technicalities, long bureaucratic processes and so on (Leoto and Lizarralde,
2019). The problem is identified in this research is barriers in sustainable construction
management which makes researcher to conduct the research in the topic of barriers in
sustainable construction management and its impact upon project timeline in order to find
effective solution in overcoming this problem which help company to perform sustainable
construction. For the conducting the research on the topic Balfour Beatty organisation has been
selected which is a multinational construction organisation of UK. The company is founded in
1909 by George Balfour and Andrew Beatty as well as its headquarters is located in London,
England. The following research covers research aim, objective, methodology, anticipated
findings as well as time scale and working programme.
Rationale
While conducting the research the gap is identified in literature is lack of information
about impact of sustainable construction management barriers upon project time line. As the
information about barriers in sustainable construction management is available through various
sources but the information about its impact on project timeline is not available which creates
problem for the researcher to conduct the research in appropriate manner (Burke, Parrish and El
Asmar, 2018). By conducting research, researcher can effectively help in fulfilling the gap in this
research. By collecting data and information from various sources researcher will effectively
fulfil the gap in this research.
The concept of sustainable construction management
According to the view of Callian (2019), Sustainable construction management refers the
environmentally- friendly structures which is the combination of sustainable construction
practices and sustainable materials which helps to reduce the environmental and waste impact. It
is also define as the practices of using processes and creating the structures which are directly
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and environmentally responsible. The primary aim of sustainable construction is to reduce the
waste material of industry which impact on the environment. Sustainable construction
management is the term of structuring the building by using recyclable and renewable materials.
It is helps to creating the environment healthy which is based on the ecological principles.
Sustainable construction management responsible for overall process of building life cycle which
includes operation, renovation, construction, design, deconstruction and maintenance. In other
words, sustainable construction management is defined as the term of create or build the
structure by using waste or recyclable materials which helps to minimize the waste production
from the industry.
In the opinion of Safa (2022), sustainable construction management is defined as the
platform which is for green construction and sustainable practices. There are two key aspects of
sustainable construction management which includes ecological principles and resources
efficiency. There are many challenges and issues which is faced when constructing the
sustainable structure, the main issues of premium cost which is over for conventional practices. It
is also refers to the management which helps to construction of structure with using waste and
recycle bin materials which helps to reduces the impact of environmentally impact and also the
product of waste materials from the industry. SCM can be minimise through improving the
resources of communication level, design charrette process and effective planning for project
teams and stakeholders. In other words, it is the term of using the waste and recyclable raw
materials to build the sustainable constriction of building structure. It is helps to maintain the
healthy environment.
How to achieve sustainable construction within the organisation.
According to the view of Manavalan and Jayakrishna (2019), construction industry is the
largest users of the global resources along with the contributors of pollution. It is important for
the construction industry to help in building a world that help in improving the lives of future
generation by using eco-friendly methods. By working sustainably, construction industry helps
in meeting the demand of the expanding population along with this support the environment in
the longer term. There are many ways that help company in order to achieve sustainable
construction for operating their business in smooth manner. It involves using renewable energy,
using on site water treatments plants to minimise waste as well as recycling as well as building
with renewable or waste materials. The other material that can companies used in order to
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maintain sustainability are wood, recycled metals, sustainable concrete, mud bricks and wool
brocks as well as straw bales. With the help of sustainable construction, there are many benefits
that an organisation can gain by using sustainable and eco-friendly materials. By the use of
building materials and renewable energy help country in order to fight in against with climate
change
In the opinion of Hall (2019), standard construction practices of construction industry are
the major reason that creates water pollution, air pollution as well as waste generation because it
consume regular logistics, cheap oil, large amounts of electrical energy as well as large amounts
of water. This makes important for the companies to adapt sustainable construction in order to
protect the environment in better manner. Sustainable construction practices are some practices
that are environmentally responsible as well as resource efficient in all over the projects life
cycle. By following some criteria such as enhancement of local flaura and fauna, effective and
efficient use of resources, incorporation of renewable sources of energy as well as measures for
pollution reduction can effectively fulfil the sustainable construction practices. By performing
certain activities company can effectively improve sustainable construction within the
organisation. The practices are smart designing methods and considerations, use of recycled or
sustainable materials as well as use of harvested rainwater during construction.
To analyse the impact of sustainable construction management upon project time line.
According to view of Khan and et.al. (2021), there are many kinds of barriers for
sustainable construction management which includes economics cost, technology, awareness,
management etc. It can be defined as the construction projects which are influence by the
sustainability which includes lack of communication understanding , lack knowledge of potential
benefits, institutions of research, environmental effect, lack number of systematic approach etc.
the impact of these barriers on the team is there is no communication between teams, high cost of
raw materials, bad productivity, bad communication etc. in other words, the impact of
sustainable constriction management barriers are conduct by the beginning of the construction of
building. In relation to Balfour Beatty, company found many barriers in constructing the
structure of their project life cycle, where the employees are not performing well according to
company and there is lack of communication networks between employees.
In opinion of Pezeshki and Ivari (2018), the analysis the impact of sustainable
construction management, there are many barriers for project timelines such as, bad
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communication, bad productivity, lack knowledge about potential services, no systematic
approach and other construction barriers. While making decision and planning for construction
the structure of building, it is need to understand that there is many challenges which can face by
the company. In relation to Balfour Beatty, the company faced m,any challenges and problems
while making the structure of the building, where lack number of productivity, high cost of raw
materials, no communication between employees, lack knowledge and information about the
construction etc. in other words the impact can affect the company by economy cost, time,
management, technology etc. sustainable construction management having many barriers like
layout, design, capital, etc.
Research Aim
To identify impact of sustainable construction management upon project timeline. “A
study on Balfour Beatty”
Research Objectives
 To understand the concept of sustainable construction management
 To analyse how to achieve sustainable construction within the organisation.
 To analyse the impact of sustainable construction management upon project time line.
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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Methodology describes as specific techniques or procedures which helps in
using, selecting, identifying, processing and analysing the data and information of the particular
topic of the research in better manner (Weller and Gerhart, 2018). It involves many approaches,
philosophies, data collection method, choices and many more for obtaining the data on the basis
of research needs. In this research onion is uses as it classify research methodology in various
topic which are described below for the research topic:
Research Philosophy- It refers to a process of collection of concerned beliefs and nature
of the reality which have been research. It has been classified in two categories that are
positivism and interpretivism. In the following conducted research, positivism research
philosophy is used as it helps in collecting and analysing the numerical data and information of
the research (Rains, Levine and Weber, 2018). This research philosophy provides freedom to the
researcher to obtain data according to their choice.
Research Approach- It described as planned process which helps in testing the
hypothesis and theories in proper manner. It is divided in two parts which includes inductive and
deductive approach (Gass, Loewen and Plonsky, 2021). In the following research, deductive
research approach has been selected by the researcher because it helps in testing the hypothesis
according to the numerical information. This research approach is cost effective which helps in
analysing and understanding data and information about the research topic.
Research Strategy- This described as different steps of plan and action that provide
direction and guidance to the researcher to gain data on the basis of their thoughts and ideas.
There are many types of research strategy in research methodology such as case study, focused
group, action research, survey, observation and many more (Shkoler, 2018). In case of present
research, survey research strategy has been selected by the researcher because it helps in
collecting the quantitative data. This strategy refers to as cheapest strategies from other which in
collecting the information about the research topic from different participants.
Research Choice- This describe as important component in research methodology which
helps in determining the types of research which is required to conduct the research in
appropriate manner (Taguchi, 2018). The research choice is divided in two categories which
includes quantitative and qualitative. In the case of following conducted research, the
quantitative method is used by the researcher which helps in analysing and collecting the
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numerical information which are in form of facts and figures. This research choice is cost and
time effective which help researcher to collect and analyse valuable information about the
research.
Time horizon- This described as a time period which is required for collecting the
information for the research topic (Harari and Lee, 2021). This are available in two form in
research methodology that are longitudinal and cross-sectional. In the present research case, the
cross-sectional time horizon has been selected as it helps in collecting the information about the
research topic in less time. This will also help researcher to observe various variable in short
time period in order to gain accurate and valuable information.
Data Collection- It described as process which helps in collecting and measuring the
information in scientific manner. This are divided in two categories which includes primary and
secondary method (Wennberg and Anderson, 2020). In the following research, both the data
collection methods selected by the researcher as it helps in collecting the data or information
from directly to the respondents as well as from the other sources also.
Data analysis- This described as a tool which helps in analysing, cleaning and evaluating
the raw information for gaining the valuable and useful information from it. There are several
types of data analysis methods in research methodology such as frequency distribution and
thematic (Smith and Zajda, 2018). In case of current research, frequency distribution data
analysis method is selected by the researcher as it helps in calculating the quantitative data of the
research in appropriate manner. This data analysis methods takes less time to analyse the data
and gain useful information in low cost.
Sampling- It described as a technique which help is collecting samples directly to whom
the data is required for the research. The sampling are classified in two categories that are
probability and non-probability. In the following conducted research, probability sampling is
selected as it helps in taking out the sample for the equal number of the members. In this
sampling method, sample is selected directly from the respondents (Sheard, 2018). This
sampling methods provides equal and fair opportunity to the respondent that are selected for the
research.
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ANTICIPATED FINDINGS
The anticipated findings and outcomes of the research is has been identified that
sustainability is important in construction as it will be helps in improving the health of the people
who will use this constructed buildings as well as it will also helps in improving the productivity
of workers during the constructions by making surroundings and work environment better and
protection from noise (Fatourehchi and Zarghami, 2020). There are several strategies which
helps company to improve their sustainable construction management in order to overcome the
challenges faced by the construction company on its absence. There are some strategies also
which helps company to overcome the barriers of sustainable construction management as it will
also help in protecting the timeline of the project from its effects which will help company to
complete their sustainable construction on time. This will make company to focus on using
sustainable material and conduct sustainable practices in order to operate their business in better
manner. This will help company to overcome the challenges that may face by the company due
to lack of sustainable construction management in the organisation. This will company to
improve the productivity of their employees which help company in order to gain various
advantages in order to operate their business in better manner.
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TIME SCALE AND WORKING PROGRAMME
The time scale and working programme for the research has been made through Gantt
Chart. A Gantt Chart is described as a kind of visualized bar chart which helps in illustrating
timeline and progress of a project (Kolganov, 2021). It allows the research planner to assess the
duration of a project, identify the required resources as well as lay out the order in which tasks is
required to be performed. It helps team to plan their work around deadlines as well as properly
allocate resources of the research.
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