How Socially Responsible is Construction Business in Australia and New Zealand?

Abstract

Interest in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is growing in the construction sector. In response to societal changes, construction professionals and the businesses they work in are expected to contribute positively to the environments and communities in which they build. Hitherto, it appears that there has been little research in mapping out the CSR focuses and initiatives of construction and engineering firms. In addressing this gap, 104 professionals from across the construction supply chain in Australia and New Zealand was undertaken. The overall results reveal that many firms’ CSR focuses are mainly on occupational health and safety, ethical business practices and environmental management and that their CSR initiatives are very much internally focused. Companies have generally focused on their CSR workplace, supply chain and environmental initiatives and largely ignored the mutuality of interests between the community and business. In moving CSR in the construction sector forward, it is argued that the industry must move from altruism to strategy and from a client focus to a community focus.