longer than two hours each. With the
permission of the participants, interviews were recorded by means of a digital recorder and supporting notes were
taken. Afterward, the transcriptions
and notes were compared and coded
using the qualitative data analysis software, NVivo. The data were analyzed
using textual analysis and interpreted
using themes and pattern interpretation. A major advantage of NVivo for
the analysis was that it allowed data to
be coded efficiently, thus reducing the
time period needed to analyze the copious amount of information gathered.
The coding was based on the interview
questions and all the transcripts were
individually broken down into various
preliminary codes: first, second, and
third level coding. These codes were
then analyzed for commonalities and
examined for emerging themes. This
approach enabled the researchers to
clearly define which themes were most
useful; those that supported a logical
progression in the order of the codes;
as well as helping to analyze questions
that sort to grasp ‘where,’ ‘why,’ and
‘how’ the key sustainability phenomena
occurred. Ultimately, this rigorous form
of analysis ensured that key challenges
to the integration of sustainability were
readily identified. The verification took
place after the interpretation of data
analysis. This involved presenting the
findings to the main participants. The
main philosophical consideration of this
research can be linked to the essential
requirement of examining sustainability
in construction projects, for the purpose
of capturing lessons aimed at enhancing
a more sustainable built environment
during the execution of future construc-
tion projects. The next section discusses
results from the research.
Findings
The findings have been presented based
on two themes drawn from the analysis. During all interviews, there was a
mutual exchange of ideas with all participants. Where appropriate, descriptive quotes drawn from the interviews
have been used further to express the
views of those interviewed.
Theme 1: Perceptions and Awareness of
Sustainable Construction
As part of the interviews, all participants
were asked to describe their awareness of sustainability and sustainable
construction within the Nigerian construction industry. Participant “E” commented on the subject of understanding
what sustainability is by saying: “
maintain our environment, the disposal and
sanitary of sites when handling projects”; whereas Participant “H” demonstrated an awareness of sustainability
by stating that:
“It has to do with trying to balance the
society in a way that we can leave it
better than the way we met it.”
Just three of the participants appeared
to have a comprehensive awareness of
the concept of sustainability within the
Nigerian construction industry. In particular, Participant “B” said: “Sustainability
is very wide and there is still a misunderstanding of what exactly it means. It goes
beyond issues affecting the environment.
Sustainability has to do with maintaining a balance of the social, economic,
and environmental factors that affect our
projects.”
Participant ID Length of Experience Designation
A. 15 Project manager
B. 12 Technical project manager
C. 15 Project manager
D. 19 Project director
E. 21 Project manager
F. 18 Project manager
G. 10 Project manager
H. 15 Construction manager
I. 10 Project manager
J. 13 Project manager
K. 16 Construction manager
L. 14 Project director
M. 19 Project manager
N. 17 Project manager
O. 22 Project manager
P. 18 Project manager
Q. 15 Construction project manager
R. 17 Project manager
S. 25 Project manager
T. 14 Project manager
U. 18 Construction manager
V. 11 Project manager
W. 13 Project manager
X. 17 Project manager
Y. 12 Project manager
Table 1: Profiles of participants.
