Impact of Sustainable Business Practices on Strategic Performance for Commercial Building Contractors

Abstract

The existing commercial building construction industry is not sustainable and sustainability is not a prominent matter in construction. The construction industry has made strides in sustainability efforts over the past couple decades, but there remains a long pathway to improving stewardship of the environment, people, and resources. This study reviews existing conditions in the construction industry through specialty and general contractor survey questionnaires. Interview investigation of three Midwest commercial building contractors examines the impact of embracing sustainable business practices. A case study offers a project level investigation of the research question to expand and support the study. Embracing sustainable business practices has a positive impact on strategic firm performance for commercial building contractors through employee satisfaction, project opportunities, and market advantage. Sustainable business practices are beneficial for construction businesses.