Delivering sustainability through value management

• Published in: Engineering, construction, and architectural management Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 168 - 180
• Main Authors: Zainul Abidin, Nazirah, Pasquire, Christine L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Emerald Group Publishing Limited 01.04.2005
• Subjects: Asset valuation; Construction industry; Economic sustainability; Asset valuation; Economic sustainability; Construction industry
• ISSN: 0969-9988; 1365-232X
• DOI: 10.1108/09699980510584502

Purpose - The attention on sustainability issues within value management (VM) practices is uncertain due to the scarcity of information on this subject in the available literature. As a value enhancement technique, VM should incorporate sustainability issues as they would affect the quality of the outcome. By exploring VM as a means to uplift sustainability issues at the early construction stages, it shall shed light to its potential and current practices and thus stimulating wider attention to this field in the future.Design methodology approach - This paper begins by presenting the underlying concept of integrating sustainability within VM. The potential of VM to uplift sustainability issues is highlighted and the relationships between these two are discussed. Field studies were conducted to investigate the existing practices of VM and its practitioners' attitudes towards sustainability.Findings - It is confirmed that sustainability consideration is already inherent in the VM workshops but the level of attention varies between workshops. There are gaps in current practices, indicating rooms for improvement. The identified barriers to integration are believed responsible for these gaps.Research implications - Any strategy to promote sustainability consideration in VM in the future must address the impediments to integration.Originality value - The attention on sustainability issues in VM remains an untapped area due to scarcity of information. Theoretically, the intrinsic capabilities and the positive relationships between these two heighten VM position as an effective means for sustainability improvement. However, in practices, sustainability attention requires improvement to bridge the gaps and overcome the existing barriers that impede current integration.