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Bullen, P A and Davis, P R (2003) Explorations in sustainable construction and procurement in Western Australia. In: Greenwood, D J (Ed.), Proceedings 19th Annual ARCOM Conference, 3-5 September 2003, Brighton, UK. Association of Researchers in Construction Management, Vol. 2, 745–54.

  • Type: Conference Proceedings
  • Keywords: Construction process; focus group; procurement; sustainable construction; Western Australia
  • ISBN/ISSN: 0 9534161 8 6
  • URL: http://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/ar2003-745-754_Bullen_and_Davis.pdf
  • Abstract:
    Integration of sustainability initiatives into construction processes such as project procurement requires substantial and innovative change. To achieve this the construction industry needs to move away from traditionally fragmented processes and adopt more collaborative and holistic approaches. Literature suggests a slowness to innovate and a general misunderstanding of the concept of sustainability, as two of the barriers to the industry achieving the changes required. While carrying out separate PhD research into sustainable construction and procurement a link was identified between these areas. As a result, early in 2003, a focus group of professionals within the Western Australian construction industry was held to investigate sustainable construction and its association with procurement. The group, selected from architects and major contractors, also attempted to identify any gaps in contemporary knowledge concerning the issues surrounding sustainable construction. Conclusions drawn from the focus group confirm there are still high levels of uncertainty concerning the meaning of sustainability and how to implement initiatives that will achieve the triple bottom-line objectives of sustainable construction. The study forms part of a work in progress and similar focus groups are planned with client, manufacturer and community stakeholder groups. The information from all of the groups will provide a model to integrate sustainability initiatives into the construction supply chain process.