Abstract
Although numerous research studies have revealed that mega-projects are closely linked to globalization and civilization, few researchers have performed logical assessments of mega-projects using stakeholder theory. As stakeholders demand greater sustainability in the construction industry, sustainable development (SD) has become a priority. However, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and green competitive advantage (GCA) have often been overlooked. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap by creating a comprehensive model to predict mega-project sustainable performance (MSP). Data was collected from 289 respondents in Pakistan’s construction industry, and hypotheses were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis. The results indicate that both secondary and primary stakeholders’ pressure positively impacts CSR and MSP. Moreover, CSR significantly affects GCA and MSP, with CSR and GCA partially mediating these relationships. Thus, the proposed model could offer innovative insights for decision-makers and engineering managers, recommend adopting social and green practices to enhance MSP with the support of concerned stakeholders’ pressure, and help achieve SD objectives.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
On reasonable request, the corresponding author will provide data.
References
Awan U, Arnold MG, Gölgeci I (2021) Enhancing green product and process innovation: towards an integrative framework of knowledge acquisition and environmental investment. Bus Strateg Environ 30(2):1283–1295. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2684
Baah C, Agyabeng-Mensah Y, Afum E, Kumi CA (2023) Do circular economy practices accelerate CSR participation of SMEs in a stakeholder-pressured era? A network theory perspective. J Clean Prod 394:136348. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2023.136348
Baah C, Opoku-Agyeman D, Acquah ISK, Issau K, Moro Abdoulaye FA (2021) Understanding the influence of environmental production practices on firm performance: a proactive versus reactive approach. J Manuf Technol Manag 32(2):266–289. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-05-2020-0195
Banihashemi S, Hosseini MR, Golizadeh H, Sankaran S (2017) Critical success factors (CSFs) for integration of sustainability into construction project management practices in developing countries. Int J Proj Manag 35(6):1103–1119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2017.01.014
Barney JB, Harrison JS (2020) Stakeholder theory at the crossroads. Bus Soc 59(2):203–212. https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650318796792
Behboud R, Zarei A, Azar A, Ebrahimi SA (2023) Failure to develop the world’s largest natural gas field: lessons from endeavors in the South Pars mega projects. Energy 272:127091. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENERGY.2023.127091
Betts TK, Wiengarten F, Tadisina SK (2015) Exploring the impact of stakeholder pressure on environmental management strategies at the plant level: what does industry have to do with it? J Clean Prod 92:282–294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.01.002
Cao S, Yao H, Zhang M (2023) CSR gap and firm performance: an organizational justice perspective. J Bus Res 158:113692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.113692
Carroll AB (1991) The pyramid of corporate social responsibility: toward the moral management of organizational stakeholders. Bus Horiz 34(4):39–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/0007-6813(91)90005-G
Carvajal-Arango D, Bahamón-Jaramillo S, Aristizábal-Monsalve P, Vásquez-Hernández A, Botero LFB (2019) Relationships between lean and sustainable construction: positive impacts of lean practices over sustainability during construction phase. J Clean Prod 234:1322–1337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.216
Chen YS, Lai SB, Wen CT (2006) The influence of green innovation performance on corporate advantage in Taiwan. J Bus Ethics 67:331–339. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9025-5
Chen YS, Lin CL, Chang CH (2014) The influence of greenwash on green word-of-mouth (green WOM): the mediation effects of green perceived quality and green satisfaction. Qual Quant 15(5):2411–2425. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-013-9898-1
Cohen J (1988) Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences, 2nd edn. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers
D’Souza C, Ahmed T, Khashru MA, Ahmed R, Ratten V, Jayaratne M (2022) The complexity of stakeholder pressures and their influence on social and environmental responsibilities. J Clean Prod 358:132038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132038
Drazkiewicz A, Challies E, Newig J (2015) Public participation and local environmental planning: testing factors influencing decision quality and implementation in four case studies from Germany. Land Use Policy 46:211–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2015.02.010
Evangelinos K, Skouloudis A, Jones N, Isaac D, Sfakianaki E (2016) Exploring the status of corporate social responsibility disclosure in the UK building and construction industry. Int J Glob Environ Issues 15(4):377–399. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJGENVI.2016.081068
Farooq M, Farooq O, Jasimuddin SM (2014) “Employees response to corporate social responsibility: exploring the role of employees” collectivist orientation. Eur Manag J 32(6):916–927. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2014.03.002
Fornell C, Larcker DF (1981) Structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error: algebra and statistics. J Mark Res. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800313
Fraj-Andrés E, Martínez-Salinas E, Matute-Vallejo J (2009) Factors affecting corporate environmental strategy in Spanish industrial Firms. Bus Strateg Environ 18(8):500–514. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.611
Freeman S, Cavusgil ST (1984) Strategic management. A stakeholder approach
Galdeano-Gómez E, Céspedes-Lorente J, Martínez-del-Río J (2008) Environmental performance and spillover effects on productivity: evidence from horticultural firms. J Environ Manag 88(4):1552–1561. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2007.07.028
Hair JF, Hult GTM, Ringle CM, Sarstedt M (2017) A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), 2nd Editio edn. Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA
Harman H (1976) Modern factor analysis, 3rd edn. Univ. Chicago Press
Helmig B, Spraul K, Ingenhoff D (2016) Under positive pressure: how stakeholder pressure affects corporate social responsibility implementation. Bus Soc 55(2):151–187. https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650313477841
Henseler J, Ringle CM, Sarstedt M (2015) A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. J Acad Mark Sci 43:115–135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8
Herold D (2018) Demystifying the link between institutional theory and stakeholder theory in sustainability reporting. Econ Manag Sustain 3(2):6–16. https://doi.org/10.14254/jems.2018.3-2.1
Hunjra AI, Boubaker S, Arunachalam M, Mehmood A (2021) How does CSR mediate the relationship between culture, religiosity and firm performance? Financ Res Lett 39. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FRL.2020.101587
Jacoby G, Liu M, Wang Y, Wu Z, Zhang Y (2019) Corporate governance, external control, and environmental information transparency: evidence from emerging markets. J Int Financ Mark Inst Money 58:269–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intfin.2018.11.015
Jakhar SK, Mangla SK, Luthra S, Kusi-Sarpong S (2019) When stakeholder pressure drives the circular economy: measuring the mediating role of innovation capabilities. Manag Decis 57(4):904–920. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-09-2018-0990
Jamali D, Lund-Thomsen P, Jeppesen S (2017) SMEs and CSR in developing countries. Bus Soc 56(1):11–22. https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650315571258
Jiang W, Wong JKW (2016) Key activity areas of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the construction industry: a study of China. J Clean Prod 113(1):850–860. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.10.093
Kock N (2015) Common method bias in PLS-SEM: a full collinearity assessment approach. Int J e-Collaboration 11(4):1–10. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijec.2015100101
Li Y, Ding R, Cui L, Lei Z, Mou J (2019) The impact of sharing economy practices on sustainability performance in the Chinese construction industry. Resour Conserv Recycl 150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104409
Lin H, Sui Y, Ma H, Wang L, Zeng S (2018) CEO narcissism, public concern, and megaproject social responsibility: moderated mediating examination. J Manag Eng 34(4). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)me.1943-5479.0000629
Lin X, McKenna B, Ho CMF, Shen GQP (2019) Stakeholders’ influence strategies on social responsibility implementation in construction projects. J Clean Prod 235(20):348–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.06.253
Lin YH, Kulangara N, Foster K, Shang J (2020) Improving green market orientation, green supply chain relationship quality, and green absorptive capacity to enhance green competitive advantage in the green supply chain. Sustain 12(18):7251. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187251
Lindell M, Karagozoglu N (2001) Corporate environmental behaviour - a comparison between Nordic and US firms. Bus Strateg Environ 10(1):38–52. https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-0836(200101/02)10:1<38::AID-BSE269>3.0.CO;2-C
Loosemore M, Lim BTH (2018) Mapping corporate social responsibility strategies in the construction and engineering industry. Constr Manag Econ 36(2):67–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2017.1326616
Ma L, Fu H (2020) Exploring the influence of project complexity on the mega construction project success: a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) method. Eng Constr Archit Manag 27(9):2429–2449. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-12-2019-0679
Ma L, Musonda J, Ali A (2023) MSR influence on environmental & ecological balance: mediating effect of environmental regulations & strategies. J Clean Prod 386:135817. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2022.135817
Machiels T, Compernolle T, Coppens T (2023) Stakeholder perceptions of uncertainty matter in megaprojects: the Flemish A102 infrastructure project. Int J Proj Manag 41(1):102437. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJPROMAN.2023.102437
Malik AR (2018) The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): a game changer for Pakistan’s economy. In: In: China’s Global Rebalancing and the New Silk Road. Springer, pp 69–83
Matsutani L, Rampasso IS, Serafim MP, Quelhas OLG, Leal Filho W, Anholon R (2022) Critical analysis of corporate social responsibility projects developed by Brazilian companies: Providing new insights for debates. Clean Eng Technol 7:100412. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CLET.2022.100412
Mavroulidis M, Vouros P, Fotiadis S, Konstantakopoulou F, Fountoulakis G, Nikolaou I, Evangelinos K (2022) Occupational health and safety of multinational construction companies through evaluation of corporate social responsibility reports. J Saf Res 81:45–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JSR.2022.01.005
Mayr S (2015) Corporate social responsibility in SMEs: the case of an Austrian construction company. Int. J Bus Res 15(2):61–72. https://doi.org/10.18374/IJBR-15-2.5
Mehmood KK, Hanaysha JR (2022) Impact of corporate social responsibility, green intellectual capital, and green innovation on competitive advantage. Int J Hum Cap Inf Technol Prof 14(1):1–14. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJHCITP.293232
Nitzl C, Roldan JL, Cepeda G (2016) Mediation analysis in partial least squares path modelling, Helping researchers discuss more sophisticated models. Ind Manag Data Syst 116(9):1849–1864. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-07-2015-0302
Ooi KB (2014) TQM: A facilitator to enhance knowledge management? A structural analysis. Expert Syst Appl 41(11):5167–5179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2014.03.013
Orlitzky M, Schmidt FL, Rynes SL (2003) Corporate social and financial performance: a meta-analysis. Organ Stud 24(3):403–441. https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840603024003910
Phillips R, Freeman RE, Wicks AC (2003) What stakeholder theory is not. Bus Ethics Q 13(4):479–502. https://doi.org/10.5840/beq200313434
Podsakoff PM, MacKenzie SB, Lee JY, Podsakoff NP (2003) Common method biases in behavioral research: a critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. J Appl Psychol 88(5):879–903. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.5.879
Project Management Institute (2013) A guide to the project management body of knowledge, 5th edn
Ragin C (2008) Redisigning social inquiry: fuzzy sets and beyond. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL
Ragin C, Strand S, Rubinson C (2017) User’s guide to fuzzyset/qualitative comparative analysis. In: Ragin C, Sean D (eds)
Rashidin MS, Javed S, Wang J (2018) The impact of market orientation and corporate social responsibility on organizational performance of companies. J Internet Bank Commer 23:1–21
Reed MS, Graves A, Dandy N, Posthumus H, Hubacek K, Morris J, Prell C, Quinn CH, Stringer LC (2009) Who’s in and why? A typology of stakeholder analysis methods for natural resource management. J Environ Manag 90(5):1933–1949. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.01.001
Rehman SU, Elrehail H, Poulin M, Shamout MD, Alzoubi HM (2022) Green managerial practices and green performance: a serial mediation model. Int J Innov Stud. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijis.2022.12.004
Rehman SU, Giordino D, Zhang Q, Alam GM (2023) Twin transitions & industry 4.0: unpacking the relationship between digital and green factors to determine green competitive advantage. Technol Soc 73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2023.102227
Rehman SU, Kraus S, Shah SA, Khanin D, Mahto RV (2021) Analyzing the relationship between green innovation and environmental performance in large manufacturing firms. Technol Forecast Soc Change 163:120481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120481
Rubio-Andrés M, Ramos-González MM, Sastre-Castillo MÁ, Gutiérrez-Broncano S (2023) Stakeholder pressure and innovation capacity of SMEs in the COVID-19 pandemic: mediating and multigroup analysis. Technol Forecast Soc Change 190:122432. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TECHFORE.2023.122432
Rueda-Manzanares A, Aragón-Correa JA, Sharma S (2008) The influence of stakeholders on the environmental strategy of service firms: the moderating effects of complexity, uncertainty and munificence. Br J Manag 19(2):185–203. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8551.2007.00538.x
Samet M, Ben Chikha S, Jarboui A (2022) Nexus between corporate social responsibility performance and stakeholder value. J Clean Prod 370:133312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133312
Santos JMRCA, Fernandes G (2023) Prioritizing stakeholders to boost collaborative R&I projects benefits: an analytic network process approach. Procedia Comput Sci 219:1660–1669. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PROCS.2023.01.459
Sarkis J, Gonzalez-Torre P, Adenso-Diaz B (2010) Stakeholder pressure and the adoption of environmental practices: the mediating effect of training. J Oper Manag 28(2):163–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jom.2009.10.001
Sarstedt M, Ringle CM, Hair JF (2021) Partial least squares structural equation modeling. In: Handbook of Market Research. Springer
Schöggl JP, Fritz MMC, Baumgartner RJ (2016) Toward supply chain-wide sustainability assessment: a conceptual framework and an aggregation method to assess supply chain performance. J Clean Prod. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.04.035
Shahzad M, Qu Y, Javed SA, Zafar AU, Rehman SU (2020a) Relation of environment sustainability to CSR and green innovation: a case of Pakistani manufacturing industry. J Clean Prod 253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119938
Shahzad M, Qu Y, Rehman SU, Ding X, Razzaq A (2022) Impact of stakeholders’ pressure on green management practices of manufacturing organizations under the mediation of organizational motives. J Environ Plan Manag:1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2022.2062567
Shahzad M, Qu Y, Ur Rehman S, Zafar AU, Ding X, Abbas J (2020b) Impact of knowledge absorptive capacity on corporate sustainability with mediating role of CSR: analysis from the Asian context. J Environ Plan Manag. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2019.1575799
Shahzad M, Qu Y, Zafar AU, Ding X, Rehman SU (2020c) Translating stakeholders’ pressure into environmental practices – the mediating role of knowledge management. J Clean Prod 275. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2020.124163
Shen L, Wu Y, Zhang X (2011) Key assessment indicators for the sustainability of infrastructure projects. J Constr Eng Manag 137(6):441–451. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)co.1943-7862.0000315
Shrivastava P (1995) Environmental technologies and competitive advantage. Strategic Management Journal 16(S1):183–200. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.4250160923
Turan V (2022) Calcite in combination with olive pulp biochar reduces Ni mobility in soil and its distribution in chili plant. Int J Phytoremediation 24(2):166–176. https://doi.org/10.1080/15226514.2021.1929826
Turker D (2009) How corporate social responsibility influences organizational commitment. J Bus Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-008-9993-8
Wang N, Chen X, Wu G, Chang YC, Yao S (2018) A short-term based analysis on the critical low carbon technologies for the main energy-intensive industries in China. J Clean Prod. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.09.261
Woodside AG (2016) Moving Beyond Multiple Regression Analysis and Symmetric Tests to Algorithms and Asymmetric Tests. In: Woodside AG (ed) Bad to good. Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Bingley, pp 83–111
Woodside AG (2013) Moving beyond multiple regression analysis to algorithms: calling for adoption of a paradigm shift from symmetric to asymmetric thinking in data analysis and crafting theory. J Bus Res 66(4):463–472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2012.12.021
Xie L, Ju T, Xia B (2021) Institutional pressures and megaproject social responsibility behavior: a conditional process model. Buildings. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11040140
Yan Y, Guan JC (2018) Social capital, exploitative and exploratory innovations: the mediating roles of ego-network dynamics. Technol Forecast Soc Change 126:244–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2017.09.004
Yasir M, Majid A, Yasir M, Qudratullah H, Ullah R, Khattak A (2021) Participation of hotel managers in CSR activities in developing countries: a defining role of CSR orientation, CSR competencies, and CSR commitment. Corp Soc Responsib Environ Manag 28(1):239–250. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2045
Yawar SA, Seuring S (2017) Management of social issues in supply chains: a literature review exploring social issues, actions and performance outcomes. J Bus Ethics 141(3):621–643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2719-9
Yu Y, Choi Y (2016) Stakeholder pressure and CSR adoption: the mediating role of organizational culture for Chinese companies. Soc Sci J 53(2):226–235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2014.07.006
Zhao ZY, Zhao XJ, Davidson K, Zuo J (2012) A corporate social responsibility indicator system for construction enterprises. J Clean Prod 29–30:277–289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.12.036
Funding
The Ministry of Education’s Humanities and Social Sciences Fund Project with Grant No. 21YJA630067, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities with Grant No. DUT21RW207, the Key Research and Development Program of Shandong Province (Soft Science Research Project) grant number 2021RKY02039, and Special Project of Shandong Social Science Planning Fund Program grant number 21CSDJ03 were the sources of financing for this study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Azhar Ali: development of theoretical framework, methodology, writing — original draft. Li Ma: supervision, formal analysis. Mohsin Shahzad: data collection, review, revision. 𝐽𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑀𝑢𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑎: review and editing, revision. Shahid Hussain: conceptualization, revision.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethical approval
Not applicable.
Consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Arshian Sharif
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary information
ESM 1
(DOCX 27 kb)
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Ali, ., Ma, L., Shahzad, M. et al. How various stakeholder pressure influences mega-project sustainable performance through corporate social responsibility and green competitive advantage. Environ Sci Pollut Res (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-29717-w
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-29717-w