Amal Abuzeinab

Green business models in the construction sector: an analysis of outcomes and benefits

Purpose Green business models (GBMs) in the construction sector represent the logic of green value creation and capture. Hence, the call to examine GBMs is growing ever louder. The aim of this paper is to identify benefits of GBMs by adopting five essential elements of the GBM from the literature: green value proposition; target group; key activities; key resources (KR); and financial logic. Design/methodology/approach In all, 19 semi-structured interviews are conducted with construction sector practitioners and academics in the UK. Thematic analysis is used to obtain benefits of GBMs. Further, the interpretive ranking process (IRP) is used to examine which elements of the GBM have a dominant role in providing benefits to construction businesses. Findings The benefits are grouped into three themes: credibility/reputation benefits; financial benefits; and long-term viability benefits. The IRP model shows that the element of KR is the most important when evaluated against these three benefit themes. Practical implications Linking GBM elements and benefits will help companies in the construction sector to analyse the business case of embracing environmental sustainability. Originality/value This research is one of the few empirical academic works investigating the benefits of GBMs in the construction sector. The IRP method is a novel contribution to GBMs and construction research.

Stakeholder Engagement: A Green Business Model Indicator

Abstract Green business models have the potential to deliver a much better performance compared to the conventional business models in this age of sustainability. Stakeholder engagement is considered one of the key elements to help facilitate an increased uptake of green business models. There is limited research available on principles and mechanisms to enhance stakeholder engagement. This paper aims to investigate principles for engaging stakeholder in the context of the UK construction industry as a means towards achieving a green business model transformation. Qualitative research was used to investigate the practice of stakeholder engagement with 19 managers and academics in the construction sector. Semi- structured interviews were conducted with these professionals and thematic analysis was used to identify themes that display effective stakeholder engagement practice. The findings suggest that stakeholder engagement is a driver contributing towards an organizations success and it can help green business models implementation. Practices, of stakeholders engagement, emerge from the data include: top level support; staff empowerment; incentive and reward; collaboration; effective communication; understanding clients need; being proactive; interacting early with clients; building relationships; partnering; and matching or facilitating different services. Organizations’ ability to interact and engage with stakeholder will be a major game changer on the competition environment. Thus, competencies around stakeholders’ engagement will be a high priority in the future.

Green business models transformation: evidence from the UK construction sector

Purpose Sustainability has the potential to bring enormous benefits to our built environment. To release this potential, a change in business models is required. The purpose of this paper is to investigate green business models (GBMs) transformation by adopting five essential elements of green value creation and capture: green value proposition (GVP), target group (TG), key activities (KA), key resources (KR), and financial logic (FL). Design/methodology/approach In this qualitative study, 19 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Interviewees were selected purposively. The emergent data were analysed with the aid of themes. Findings It was observed that significant effort was being made towards enabling the transformation of certain elements pertinent to green value creation: KA and KR. This was particularly so when compared to other elements like GVP, TG, and FL. Practical implications Findings from this study should encourage construction managers to align their extant BMs to green activities hence enabling new approaches to green value creation and capture. Furthermore, the study will aid in improving the environmental and economic positions of the value chain within the construction sector. Originality/value This research is one of the few empirical academic works investigating GBMs in the construction sector.