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Actors and barriers to the adoption of LCC and LCA techniques in the built environment

Maria D'Incognito (DICATECh – Department of Civil, Environmental, Building Engineering, and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, Italy)
Nicola Costantino (DMMM - Department of Mechanical engineering, Mathematics, and Management, Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, Italy)
Giovanni C. Migliaccio (Department of Construction Management, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA)

Built Environment Project and Asset Management

ISSN: 2044-124X

Article publication date: 5 May 2015

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the existing barriers to the slow adoption of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) in construction, and the main responsible actors.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design is based on a two-phase approach. First, the existing literature was studied through a multiple-step content analysis (CA) approach, which combined unsupervised concept mapping with computer aided CA. Using a relational CA approach, statistical-based analysis tools were initially used to identify the relationships between actors and barriers. Later, a Delphi study was administered to a panel of experts, to triangulate, validate, and refine the initial results.

Findings

The study revealed that organizational culture is the most relevant barrier, and that clients and professionals are the actors that predominantly influence the adoption of LCC and LCA in projects. Technical and financial barriers, such as the lack and quality of input data and the high costs of implementation are also deemed relevant.

Research limitations/implications

The CA was performed by a single rater on a sample that included 50 papers in English language. Future research may focus on enlarging the sample, extending it to other languages, and linking the source (or the expert) to their professional context to evaluate geographical differences in barriers.

Originality/value

The adopted approach gives new insights on the relationships behind the rejection of LCA and LCC suggesting that solutions at the organizational level may be more effective than technical ones.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The research team is extremely grateful to the experts who have dedicated their precious time to participate in the Delphi study and to the peer reviewers who have contributed to the final version of the paper through their anonymous comments and suggestions.

Citation

D'Incognito, M., Costantino, N. and Migliaccio, G.C. (2015), "Actors and barriers to the adoption of LCC and LCA techniques in the built environment", Built Environment Project and Asset Management, Vol. 5 No. 2, pp. 202-216. https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-12-2013-0068

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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