How are social procurement actors shaping a new field of professional practice in the Australian construction industry?

There has been a recent proliferation of social procurement policies in Australia that target the construction industry. This is mirrored in many other countries, and the nascent research in this area shows that these policies are being implemented by an emerging group of largely undefined professionals who are often forced to create their own roles in institutional vacuums with little organisational legitimacy and support. By mobilising theories of how organisational champions diffuse innovations in other fields of practice, this paper contributes new insights into the evolving nature of these newly emerging roles and the motivations which drive these professionals to overcome the institutional inertia they invariably face. The results of semi-structured interviews, with fifteen social procurement champions working in the Australian construction industry, indicate that social procurement champions come from a wide range of professional backgrounds and bring diverse social capital to their roles. Linked by a shared sense of social consciousness, these champions challenge traditional institutional norms, practices, supply chain relationships, and traditional narratives about the concepts of value in construction. We conclude that, until normative standards develop around social procurement in the construction industry, its successful implementation will depend on external institutional pressures and the practical demonstration of what is possible in practice within the performative constraints of traditional project objectives.

The institutional drivers of social procurement implementation in Australian construction projects

Social procurement is becoming an increasingly important requirement in the delivery of private- and public- sector construction projects across the world, yet there is relatively little research done in this area. Mobilising Furneaux and Barraket’s social procurement typology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior managers from eight tier-one contractors in the Australian construction industry to explore and classify the types of social procurement strategies used in projects, the types of social value created and the barriers to implementation. Documentary data were collected in the form of company policies and contract requirements. Results demonstrate the conceptual merit of Furneaux and Barraket’s typology in a construction industry context by highlighting different constraints on social value creation for each type of social procurement. These results also indicate that approaches to social procurement in the Australian construction industry are generally driven by a philosophy of risk mitigation rather than opportunity maximisation, and are confined to low-value and low-risk construction activities and are constrained by a lack of existing and new supply chain social-value creation capacity. Construction industry social value chains are fragile in Australia, and it is concluded that in building the sector’s significant untapped capacity to deliver social value to the communities in which it builds, priority should be given to three main strategies: third sector capacity building; barrier-to-entry reduction and skills development in managing new cross-sector collaborations among public, private and third sector organisations.

PurposeThis paper responds to the need for more construction project management research in the emerging field of social procurement. It contributes by exploring the potential value of cross-sector collaboration and project-based intermediation in meeting new social procurement imperatives.Design/methodology/approachA thematic exploratory case study analysis is presented of seventy-three interviews undertaken with stakeholders involved in a unique project-based intermediary developed by a major Australian construction company to leverage the power of cross-sector collaboration in response to social procurement imperatives on its projects, based on semi-structured interviews with 33 disadvantaged job seekers, 40 organisational stakeholders (employment agencies; not-for-profits, Indigenous, disability and refugee support organisations; training organisations; subcontractors; government agencies and departments; community organisations) and observational and documentary data over the duration of a unique project-based intermediary called a Connectivity Centre, developed by a major Australian contractor to deliver on its emerging social procurement requirements.FindingsThe results show that cross-sector collaboration within the construction industry can produce highlight numerous cognitive, behavioural, health, situational and affective social impacts for the project community and shared-value benefits for the range of organisations involved. However, it is found that cross-sector collaboration through project-based intermediation in a construction context is challenging due to the fragmented and dynamic nature of construction project teams and the communities they have to engage with. Encouraging people and organisations to collaborate who operate in industries and organisations with different and sometimes competing institutional logics and objectives (even if they are linked by common values) requires a set of knowledge, competencies and relationships not recognised in current global project management competency frameworks.Originality/valueThis research contributes new insights to the emerging but embryonic body of research into construction social procurement by demonstrating the value of emerging theories of social procurement, social value, cross-sector collaboration and intermediation in enhancing our currently limited understanding of the complex challenges involved in responding to new social procurement requirements in the construction industry. It explores and documents the potential value of project-based intermediaries in developing and managing the new cross-sector relationships, roles, relational competencies and practices, which are required to effectively respond to and measure the impact of emerging social procurement policies in the construction industry. These findings have a potentially significant social impact by providing new insights for policymakers and the construction industry, to optimise the industry’s response to emerging social procurement policies.

Young people’s unemployment and underemployment are acknowledged as serious and enduring problems in Australia and globally. Construction is one of the largest employers of young people, and social procurement of construction products and services has significant potential if harnessed to address this problem. This article argues that project-based intermediation offers critical new insights into how social procurement can be implemented in a construction context. Employing a single case study approach, the article uses ecological systems theory and concept mapping to examine the results of focus groups with twelve young people who transitioned to employment in the Australian construction industry through a unique project-based intermediary set up by a major contractor to meet its social procurement requirements. Addressing the current under-theorisation of social procurement research, this article offers new conceptual insights into the socio-ecological networks that influence young people’s successful transition to employment in construction. The findings also provide new practical insights for government policymakers and the construction industry into the potential role that project-based intermediation can play in addressing youth unemployment in the context of emerging social procurement policies in many countries.

PurposeSocial procurement policies are an emerging policy instrument being used by governments around the world to leverage infrastructure and construction spending to address intractable social problems in the communities they represent. The relational nature of social procurement policies requires construction firms to develop new collaborative partnerships with organisations from the government, not-for-profit and community sectors. The aim of this paper is to address the paucity of research into the risks and opportunities of entering into these new cross-sector partnerships from the perspectives of the stakeholders involved and how this affects collaborative potential and social value outcomes for intended beneficiaries.Design/methodology/approachThis case study research is based on a unique collaborative intermediary called Connectivity Centre created by an international contractor to coordinate its social procurement strategies. The findings draw on a thematic analysis of qualitative data from focus groups with 35 stakeholders from the construction, government, not-for-profit, social enterprise, education and employment sectors.FindingsFindings indicate that potentially enormous opportunities which social procurement offers are being undermined by stakeholder nervousness about policy design, stability and implementation, poor risk management, information asymmetries, perverse incentives, candidate supply constraints, scepticism, traditional recruitment practices and industry capacity constraints. While these risks can be mitigated through collaborative initiatives like Connectivity Centres, this depends on new “relational” skills, knowledge and competencies which do not currently exist in construction. In conclusion, when social procurement policy requirements are excessive and imposed top-down, with little understanding of the construction industry's compliance capacity, intended social outcomes of these policies are unlikely to be achieved.Originality/valueThis research draws on theories of cross-sector collaboration developed in the realm of public sector management to address the lack of research into how the new cross-sector partnerships encouraged by emerging social procurement policies work in the construction industry. Contributing to the emerging literature on cross-sector collaboration, the findings expose the many challenges of working in cross-sector partnerships in highly transitionary project-based environments like construction.

Contributing to the development of employment requirements as an emerging theme in social procurement theory and addressing the evidence vacuum in social procurement research and policy relating to the employment of ex-offenders, the results of a survey of 94 sub-contractors in the Australian construction industry are reported. Results indicate a relatively positive attitudes towards the employment of ex-offenders compared to other industries but also numerous barriers to sustainable employment identified. These include: perceived risks of re-offending; general behavioural problems; and lack of appropriate job skills. Considerable variations exist in perceptions of risk and practices in employing ex-offenders between trades, firm size and past experiences of hiring ex-offenders. It is concluded that policy makers cannot treat the construction industry or ex-offenders as a homogeneous whole and that negative stigmas need to be challenged through supply chain education and capacity-building programmes which provide knowledge, resources and wrap-around support services to enable the successful integration into the construction industry. Theoretically, the results spotlight the potential value of feminist theory in exploring how perceptions of ex-offenders might vary across different disadvantaged groups targeted by social procurement policies. Theories of cross sector collaboration could also be usefully mobilised to explore how new shared practices can be developed between the many organisations involved in reintegrating ex-offenders into employment.

The construction industry is the primary focus for social procurement policies in many countries. However, there has been little research into the drivers of social procurement policy adoption in this industry. To help address this gap in research, this paper reports the results of semi-structured interviews with fifteen social procurement professionals who are implementing social procurement into the Australian construction industry. Results reveal interesting historical parallels with the implementation of environmental sustainability initiatives. However, social procurement has yet to become normalized. There appears to be a high level of homogeneity in industry practice and while there is considerable scope for innovation, this is constrained by the prescriptive and ‘top-down' nature of social procurement policies in Australia which make it difficult for organizations to respond ‘bottom-up’ to actual community needs. It is concluded that the considerable untapped potential of social procurement policies to create social value currently depends on the intrapreneurial efforts of a small number of emerging social procurement professionals who are individually challenging the many institutional norms and practices which undermine the implementation of these policies into the construction industry.

Social procurement is re-emerging as an innovative collaborative policy tool for governments around the world to leverage their construction supply chains to help them address intransigent social problems such as long-term unemployment. Such policies challenge deeply rooted institutional norms and structures in the construction industry and research shows that they are being championed by a small and largely undefined group of social procurement professionals who suffer significant role conflict and ambiguity. Contributing new insights to this nascent research, this paper traces etymological definitions of champion roles, merging them with organisational theory to present a new typology of social procurement champions in the construction industry. Drawing on a thematic analysis of snowballed interviews with fifteen recognised champions of social procurement in the Australian construction industry, findings highlight four distinct types of social procurement champion: champions of organisations; champions of the concept; champions of people; and champions of a solution. It is found that there is no one pure type of social procurement champion. Rather, champions have to adapt their social procurement roles to the highly dynamic and varied organisation contexts in which they operate. These findings advance the emerging social procurement debate within and outside construction by highlighting the many different roles which are needed to implement social innovations like social procurement into a project-based industry like construction. It is concluded that organisations which see this as one person’s responsibility are likely to fail in implementing these new policy reforms.

The main focus of this paper is to discuss advancements in concrete technology, particularly in the use of GeoPolymer Concrete (GPC) for the purpose of construction in Australia. Geo-Polymer Concrete is environmentally friendly but yet strong enough for major construction projects. This includes the utilization of GPC for selected structural components such as load-bearing walls. In addition, this paper explores the future of GPC in the Australian construction industry. The paper investigates the benefits or otherwise of the successful utilization of GPC in the Australian construction and engineering industry. Furthermore, the Australian construction industry has the potential to gain a valuable insight into the benefits of GPC as an alternative to other materials. Therefore, the main areas which will contribute to the successful implementation of GPC in the Australian market will be identified and supported. These include areas such as the environmental advantages and mechanical properties (strength and durability) that will benefit the Australian construction industry, as well as obstacles which may influence GPC's future. Finally, this paper reports the successful implementation of GPC in the Australian construction industry as influenced by a variety of technical issues such as environmental and commercial factors.

International migrant and refugee numbers are at record levels and continue to grow. The construction industry is a major source of potential employment for migrants and refugees and emerging social and sustainable procurement policies in many parts of the world are also requiring construction supply chains to employ refugees and migrants as a condition of public sector contracts. However, there is virtually no research into the barriers that refugees and migrants face in seeking decent employment in the construction sector. Addressing this important gap in knowledge an exploratory survey of refugees' and migrants' job-seeking experiences in the Australian construction industry is presented. Results show that by far the greatest barrier to employment is lack of construction industry experience, followed by poor recognition of previous skills and experience. Recent migrants and refugees and those with the greatest previous experience of working in construction face the greatest barriers in finding decent work. Men from an Arabic background also experience greater difficulties than other cultural groups. It is recommended that policy-makers develop more initiatives to provide work experience and engage with construction employers about the challenges which refugees and migrants face in finding work in construction.

In Australia, a new feature of public policy is the requirement by governments that large-scale infrastructure projects integrate social procurement practices that alter the traditional focus on balancing price and quality. Social procurement has been gradually developing in practice, but the academic literature has not kept pace. Although past research has identified some of the barriers affecting social procurement implementation in the construction industry, the nature of the barriers impeding its proliferation has not to date been systematically reviewed. This paper undertakes a review of the social procurement literature published from January 2012 to 30 June 2022, with 49 papers chosen under selective criteria. This critical review employs the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses” (PRISMA) technique to retrieve secondary data on social procurement from available peer-reviewed academic papers through three databases (Scopus, EBSCOhost, Web of Science). The literature analysis focuses on three themes: (1) barriers; (2) enablers; and (3) strategies to overcome the barriers. The paper finds that social procurement as a field of practice is evolving and expanding, but its role in contributing to social value creation remains an under-theorised concept. Recommendations for practice and future research are identified, including the need to measure the real-world impacts of policy.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the barriers to entry for Indigenous businesses into the Australian construction industry.Design/methodology/approachA national survey was conducted with 33 Indigenous businesses operating in the Australian construction industry.FindingsThe findings show that Indigenous enterprises face similar challenges to many small non-Indigenous enterprises wishing to enter the industry. These include adjusting to unique construction industry cultures and practices, breaking into existing business networks and building social capital and being under-cut by industry incumbents and competitors when tendering for projects. These barriers are similar to those faced by other non-Indigenous social enterprises, although Indigenous enterprises do appear to experience relatively greater difficulty in starting-up their businesses and in securing sufficient capital, finance and assistance to enable them to scale-up and tender for normal work packages at a competitive price.Research limitations/implicationsThe results are limited to Australian Indigenous businesses. The survey does not allow a comparison of non-Indigenous and Indigenous businesses, although comparison of results with existing non-Indigenous research into small to medium-sized firms in construction does allow some tentative insights. These need to be explored further.Practical implicationsThese results indicate that there are significant barriers to be addressed within the Australian construction industry if government indigenous procurement policies are to achieve their stated aims of increasing the number of Indigenous firms in the industry. The results also have important implications for Indigenous businesses and for non-Indigenous firms operating in the Australian construction industry.Social implicationsThis is an important gap in knowledge to address if countries like Australia are to redress the significant inequalities in income and health suffered by Indigenous populations.Originality/valueIn countries like Australia, with significant Indigenous populations, governments are seeking to address persistent disadvantage by using new social procurement initiatives to create quasi construction markets for Indigenous enterprises to participate in the construction industry. While there is an emerging body of research into the barriers facing mainstream small to medium-sized enterprises and, to a lesser extent, social enterprises in construction, the barriers to entry facing Indigenous construction enterprises have been largely ignored.

PurposeThis research examines the employability challenges faced by skilled female migrants in the Australian construction industry, focusing on barriers to employment and their negative impacts on confidence, health and well-being. The paper concludes with recommendations for construction firms and policymakers to improve the employability of these women, offering insights that are applicable internationally.Design/methodology/approachUsing employability theory, the study draws on semi-structured interviews with 16 skilled female migrants seeking employment in the Australian construction industry. The interviews captured the lived experiences of these women, and thematic analysis was applied to identify key barriers and inform recommendations for construction firms and policymakers.FindingsThe findings provide new conceptual insights into the multiple barriers which female skilled migrants have to overcome in improving their employability in the construction industry. It is also found that these experiences of seeking employment in construction align with the theoretical concept of “contextualized employability” and have potentially profound negative impacts on skilled female migrants’ confidence, hope, health, well-being and family and community relationships. This is despite the Australian construction industry facing a serious labour and skills shortage and being the most gender segregated industry in Australia. The study highlights the need for tailored support, improved industry practices and collaborative efforts from government and private sectors to enhance the employability and integration of skilled female migrants in the construction industry.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited by its focus on the Australian context, which may not be generalisable to other countries with different institutional systems, policies and cultural attitudes towards migrants. The sample size of 16 participants, while providing in-depth insights, may not capture the full diversity of experiences among female skilled migrants. Further research is needed in other countries to compare findings and develop more comprehensive strategies. Despite these limitations, the study’s implications highlight the urgent need for better support systems and industry reforms to improve the employability of skilled female migrants in the construction sector.Practical implicationsImproving the employability of skilled female migrants promotes social integration, mental health and stronger community ties. It challenges gender stereotypes and reduces discrimination in the construction industry, contributing to a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Practical recommendations include mentorship programs, inclusive recruitment and tailored training. Social procurement policies could set hiring targets for female migrants in the construction industry, while streamlined qualification recognition and tax incentives can encourage hiring. Non-profits and community organisations can support these efforts through mentorship, networking and internships, helping these women build sustainable careers and strengthen workforce diversity. The recommendations aim at enhancing the job prospects and overall well-being of these women while addressing labour shortages in the construction industry.Originality/valueThis study contributes original insights into the under-researched area of skilled female migrants’ employability in the construction industry. It expands employability theory by highlighting the impact of intersecting factors such as gender, migration status and industry-specific barriers on employment outcomes. Its practical recommendations offer pathways for policymakers and industry leaders to improve the integration and employment outcomes of this untapped talent pool.

Purpose Social procurement is an innovative policy tool that integrates social values in public procurement, while leveraging the power of public procurement to address complex social problems. This study aims to examine the implementation of social procurement within the Ministry of Health through cross-sector collaboration among public, private and third-sector organizations. Specifically, the objectives were to analyze how the procurement process contributes to social value creation, identify the main enablers of collaboration and analyze the potential for optimizing social value–based procurement policies. Design/methodology/approach This research used a descriptive qualitative approach, using a case study design. The data collection used was a thematic analysis, conducted through semistructured interviews, focus group interviews and participatory observation, involving 16 stakeholders from government, businesses, community organizations and universities. Data collection focused on cross-sector collaboration through in-house procurement (Swakelola) type III and procurement through suppliers that meet the criteria of Domestic Products and Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) and Cooperatives. These mechanisms were evaluated for their potential to create social value. Findings The results show that collaboration between the Ministry of Health and nonprofit social organizations in the procurement of health services through in-house procurement type III produces direct social value. Meanwhile, collaboration between the Ministry of Health and private sector organizations in the procurement of affirmative action policies for MSEs, as well as cooperatives that produce domestic products, creates indirect social value. Leadership, regulations, procurement systems and trust emerged as the primary factors supporting the implementation of social procurement. The strategy for optimizing social procurement is driven by collaborative leadership, which creates collaborative procurement governance and generates social value. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this study include the limited scope of data exploration, which only involved key stakeholders from the public sector, namely, the Ministry of Health and several partners from the nonprofit, private and higher education sectors, including the National Public Procurement Agency. The perspectives of beneficiaries of social programs or services have not been considered, despite their significant role in evaluating the resulting social impact. Similarly, other secondary stakeholders, such as academics, civil society organizations and donor agencies, as well as other key stakeholders, including oversight bodies, have not been adequately accommodated. These limitations in stakeholder exploration and analysis need to be addressed in further research involving multiple stakeholders in assessing social procurement. Practical implications This study recommends that leaders actively encourage cross-sector collaboration in procurement and integrate social values into procurement strategies. Procurement regulations promote collaborative governance in the early stages. Meanwhile, third-sector leaders focus on building internal capabilities, engaging sector dialogue, establishing trust and pursuing social goals. Social implications This study discusses broadening cross-sector stakeholders’ understanding of the importance of governments in developing countries creating social value through the procurement of goods and services. Originality/value This study bridges the gap in social procurement literature by examining its application in Indonesia, providing insight into cross-sector collaboration dynamics and offering policy recommendations. The result contributes to both theory and practice by demonstrating the potential for social procurement to achieve sustainable development goals through leadership.