From disparate sustainability objectives to value-creating indicators in construction

Abstract

Recently, there has been a growing interest in value and sustainability in construction. However, the concept of value, along with how to produce and measure it, remains somewhat unclear and unsystematic. This thesis aims to describe the process of defining and managing values in a construction project. This aim was realised by answering the research questions and understanding the concept of value in construction. The research questions for this study are: ‘How is value defined in construction projects?’, ‘How is sustainability reflected in project values?’, and ‘How do the defined values guide project activities?’ This thesis used a mixed-methods approach, employing quantitative data analysis with qualitative interviews to examine the current practices and perspectives on defining and managing project values in construction. The holistic view gained through the research questions enabled the framework to be constructed.

This study presents two key findings. The first is the concept of project value. It divides value in construction into three categories: value of the result, value during the project, and soft values. The second is the similarities and differences between project values and targets. Project values are broader, and more generic statements and targets are the goals the project is trying to achieve under these values. Finally, this thesis introduces a framework for defining and managing project values in construction. The framework can be used in the initial phases of cooperative project delivery approaches to help define and manage project values, and thus, with sustainable value-creation. As this study was conducted on public construction projects in Finland, these limitations should be considered when applying the framework.