Acta Structilia

Corporate social responsibility performance of property-development firms in Nigerian south-western urban cities

Oyewole Oyesomo — 2024-12-11

Previous studies on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the construction and property-development domain have mainly focused on countries in the Global North with very few studies in the Global South. These prior studies have defined the pyramid elements (economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic) that make up overall CSR, but none of them have assessed how well corporations performed in relation to each pyramid element, particularly in the property-development industry. Consequently, reflecting on the limited CSR studies in the Global South, this study examines the performance of property-development companies regarding the CSR pyramid elements. The study also assesses the barriers and strategic drivers of CSR among property-development companies. The study employed a descriptive survey research, and questionnaires were administered to 43 property-development companies. Descriptive data analysis was done to rank the relative importance of items from the questionnaire. Results showed that, although companies performed ‘well’ in their legal CSR, and ‘average’ in their economic and ethical CSR, companies performed ‘poorly’ in the area of philanthropic CSR. Lack of support by top management, corruption/lack of transparency, lack of knowledge and awareness by professionals, and lack of regulatory framework were identified as significant barriers to CSR implementation among property-development companies. Vision of founders/support by top management, regulatory framework, stakeholder activism, and good relationship-building are potential key strategic drivers of CSR implementation programmes among property-development companies. Given the findings, it is recommended that property-development companies should integrate CSR principles into their vision and mission statement and consider it to be a business function. This can be done by mitigating the barriers identified through the adoption of strategic drivers as postulated by this study.

The efficacy of roof-based adaptations to reduce heat stress exposure in informal dwellings

Ethan Viljoen — 2024-12-11

While climate change represents a universal threat to the sustainable growth efforts globally, its impacts are not experienced equally with marginalised population groups, especially informal settlement residents, being highly exposed to its negative effects. Despite being widely acknowledged that the built environment is a major driver of inhabitants’ exposure to climate change-related hazards, limited research has been undertaken on developing heat stress adaptation measures for informal settlements in Southern Africa. Furthermore, Africa’s projected rapid urbanisation and limited adequate housing provision point to a significant growth of informal settlements, particularly within the Southern African context. The dearth of available information on household level climate change adaptation in informal settlements prompted this study to investigate the efficacy of roof-based adaptation strategies to lower heat stress exposure in informal dwellings in Tshwane, South Africa. As an explorative study with a quantitative focus, the study uses a digital simulation research design to assess the efficacy of four climate change adaptation strategies to lower heat stress exposure in two typical informal dwellings as case studies. While informal settlements have diverse building typologies, informal dwellings – frame structures cladded with steel sheeting without any thermal insulation – are widely used and highly vulnerable. In contrast to typical adaptation measures proposed for informal dwellings, the main findings highlight the benefit of high thermal mass coupled with shading strategies to lower thermal amplitudes and lower excessive heat stress exposure. Consequently, the article contributes to the current climate change adaptation discourse, in particular its application in informal settlements.

SME contractors’ management practices to achieve sustainable business performance in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

Athenkosi Sogaxa — 2024-12-11

The construction industry in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa plays a crucial role in the region’s economy, yet small and medium enterprise (SME) construction companies face significant challenges in achieving long-term business sustainability. This article aims to provide practical guidelines for SMEs, by investigating the most critical construction management practices adopted by SME contractors. Utilising a quantitative approach, data were collected from 59 purposefully selected participants, including directors, construction managers, quantity surveyors, site agents, and technicians, all registered under the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Grades 1-4 in General Building (GB). The management practices of SME contractors were analysed using the relative importance index (RII) and factor analysis to rank these practices according to their significance. Findings indicate that SME contractors prioritise health and safety strategies, effective resource utilisation, integrated project management systems, competent recruitment, strong leadership skills, and robust health and safety management as essential practices. The principal component analysis identified six key management factors to enhance competitiveness while contributing to the region’s sustainable development goals. These factors include shared knowledge among management, effective project scope planning, comprehensive health and safety management, ownership of construction business knowledge, scope control on projects, and clearly defined goals for management teams. This study is original in its focus on the specific management practices that can strengthen the sustainability of SME contractors within a developing region, providing a valuable framework for enhancing their operational effectiveness.

Urban green infrastructure and social cohesion in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria

Adedotun Dipeolu — 2024-12-11

Urbanisation has increasingly resulted in social fragmentation, insecurity, and health challenges in cities worldwide. Urban green infrastructure (UGI) presents a viable solution, by promoting social interaction and enhancing safety and well-being. While an increasing body of scholarly literature has examined the interaction between UGI and its social impacts in the built environment, empirical studies specifically addressing the connection between UGI quality and social cohesion in densely populated urban areas of developing countries remain limited. This article investigates the relationship between UGI and social cohesion in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria. It aims to explore how the presence, accessibility, and quality of green spaces affect social interactions, community trust, and residents’ sense of belonging. Using a multi-stage sampling approach, the study surveyed 1,560 residents through questionnaires administered in their neighbourhoods. Findings from descriptive statistical analyses and categorical regression reveal that, despite residents perceiving the current green infrastructure as substandard, there is a strong belief that it positively influences social cohesion. The study identifies three critical dimensions of UGI, which include the deterioration of green spaces, accessibility for recreation, and proximity to residences, as factors that significantly impact on social cohesion. These insights can inform urban planning policies aimed at creating inclusive and sustainable green spaces, ultimately improving social cohesion and enhancing the overall well-being of urban communities in Lagos and similar contexts throughout the Global South. By prioritising these dimensions in urban planning, cities can support stronger community ties and improve residents’ quality of life.

City beautification through corporate social responsibility landscape branding in enhancing urban landscape identity in Kisumu City, Kenya

Edwin K’oyoo — 2024-12-11

City identity and branding have traditionally been shaped by iconic architecture, including monumental buildings and landmarks. However, recent studies have begun to explore city branding through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, particularly from a landscape perspective. There is limited research, particularly in the Global South, examining the role of CSR in the enhancement of open green spaces and its contribution to shaping urban landscape identity. This study investigates CSR-driven beautification projects in Kisumu City, Kenya, where corporate-funded initiatives have sought to improve urban landscapes through the landscaping of road islands and roundabouts, alongside broader urban renewal efforts. The article aims to document the spatial attributes of these CSR projects; assess their current status in terms of cleanliness, safety, and maintenance, as well as identify the challenges faced in implementing CSR-driven beautification efforts. The aim of these projects is not only to promote the city’s unique urban identity, but also to enhance the corporate image through landscape branding. A qualitative research methodology is employed, involving field observations, GIS mapping, and photography, complemented by purposive interviews. The findings reveal not only diverse landscape designs, including water features and sculptures, but also highlight significant issues with upkeep, safety concerns from street urchins, and the overall deterioration of some sites. These results are valuable for policymakers in city governments and corporations involved in CSR projects, offering insights into how such initiatives can better contribute to urban landscape identity, city branding, and the sustainability of urban beautification efforts.

Alcohol and tobacco use by construction workers: A systematic literature review

Olubimbola Oladimeji — 2024-12-11

Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which aims to ensure healthy lifestyles and promote well-being for all, is a critical focus within the context of construction health and safety, particularly for construction workers. A significant factor influencing the health and safety of construction workers is their consumption of alcohol and tobacco (A&T). This article presents a systematic review of the research on A&T use among construction workers, an analysis of key findings, research methodologies, and recommendations. A knowledge-mapping approach is applied to 108 articles sourced from the Web of Science (WOS), generating clusters of relevant keywords to illustrate the interrelationships between A&T usage and construction workers. The knowledge map reveals 40 distinct keyword distributions, organised into five clusters, highlighting the key connections between alcohol, tobacco, and construction workers. From an initial pool of 336 articles from WOS and Scopus, 26 were selected based on the PRISMA protocol for further analysis. A review of these 26 studies demonstrates a predominant use of mixed-methods and quantitative research approaches. The findings show the heightened vulnerability of construction workers to hazardous A&T consumption, its adverse health effects, and the urgent need for comprehensive interventions aimed at reducing or eliminating this risk.

Some implications of the condition of South Africa’s public sector fixed infrastructure

Kevin Wall — 2024-12-11

This third article in a planned series on the state of South Africa’s public sector fixed infrastructure examines the implications of its deteriorating condition. The first two articles focused on efforts to monitor infrastructure conditions and on studies of its state and findings. This review outlines the extent to which the poor condition of infrastructure negatively impacts on the economy and quality of life, providing specific examples from sectors such as land transport, electricity, water, and waste water, with agribusiness as a case study. The article discusses how the failures of institutions such as Eskom (including its neglect of capacity expansion), PRASA, Transnet, and municipal authorities have hindered economic growth and stifled improvements in citizens’ quality of life. Central to this analysis is the argument that the root cause is institutional breakdown: the failure of these institutions preceded the deterioration of infrastructure, and only through fundamental institutional reform can these challenges be addressed. The article concludes that institutional reform should be a primary focus in addressing South Africa’s infrastructure crisis.