Causal relationships in the sustainable transition of the construction sector : a fuzzy DEMATEL analysis of Turkey and Sweden
(2026) In International Journal of Construction Management- Abstract
Achieving a successful transition depends on how structural conditions, strategic choices, and performance outcomes interact within firms. This study examines the causal relationships among sustainability drivers in the construction sector, focusing on Turkey and Sweden as contrasting institutional contexts. Using a Most Different System Design, the analysis applies the fuzzy DEMATEL method to evaluate direct and indirect relationships among ten criteria grouped into structure, strategy, and performance dimensions. The results show that the relative importance and causal roles of these drivers differ across the two contexts. In Turkey, strategy-related factors exert stronger influence, whereas in Sweden, structural and... (More)
Achieving a successful transition depends on how structural conditions, strategic choices, and performance outcomes interact within firms. This study examines the causal relationships among sustainability drivers in the construction sector, focusing on Turkey and Sweden as contrasting institutional contexts. Using a Most Different System Design, the analysis applies the fuzzy DEMATEL method to evaluate direct and indirect relationships among ten criteria grouped into structure, strategy, and performance dimensions. The results show that the relative importance and causal roles of these drivers differ across the two contexts. In Turkey, strategy-related factors exert stronger influence, whereas in Sweden, structural and performance-related factors are more prominent. These differences reflect variations in national innovation systems and institutional environments, which shape how firms mobilize resources and implement sustainability practices. By identifying the causal structure of sustainability drivers, the study contributes to research on sustainable construction and innovation systems. The findings also have implications for policymakers and managers by indicating that sustainability strategies must be adapted to specific institutional conditions rather than transferred across contexts without modification.
(Less)
- author
- Ateş-Yalçın, Gizem ; Göktepe-Hultén, Devrim LU and Marşap, Beyhan
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- epub
- subject
- keywords
- construction sector, fuzzy DEMATEL, performance, strategy, structure, Sustainable transition
- in
- International Journal of Construction Management
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105038668687
- ISSN
- 1562-3599
- DOI
- 10.1080/15623599.2026.2666340
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 77d8c7ff-da72-4f32-81a4-2ecf697d4677
- date added to LUP
- 2026-08-19 10:51:53
- date last changed
- 2026-08-19 10:52:50
@article{77d8c7ff-da72-4f32-81a4-2ecf697d4677,
abstract = {{<p>Achieving a successful transition depends on how structural conditions, strategic choices, and performance outcomes interact within firms. This study examines the causal relationships among sustainability drivers in the construction sector, focusing on Turkey and Sweden as contrasting institutional contexts. Using a Most Different System Design, the analysis applies the fuzzy DEMATEL method to evaluate direct and indirect relationships among ten criteria grouped into structure, strategy, and performance dimensions. The results show that the relative importance and causal roles of these drivers differ across the two contexts. In Turkey, strategy-related factors exert stronger influence, whereas in Sweden, structural and performance-related factors are more prominent. These differences reflect variations in national innovation systems and institutional environments, which shape how firms mobilize resources and implement sustainability practices. By identifying the causal structure of sustainability drivers, the study contributes to research on sustainable construction and innovation systems. The findings also have implications for policymakers and managers by indicating that sustainability strategies must be adapted to specific institutional conditions rather than transferred across contexts without modification.</p>}},
author = {{Ateş-Yalçın, Gizem and Göktepe-Hultén, Devrim and Marşap, Beyhan}},
issn = {{1562-3599}},
keywords = {{construction sector; fuzzy DEMATEL; performance; strategy; structure; Sustainable transition}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}},
series = {{International Journal of Construction Management}},
title = {{Causal relationships in the sustainable transition of the construction sector : a fuzzy DEMATEL analysis of Turkey and Sweden}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2026.2666340}},
doi = {{10.1080/15623599.2026.2666340}},
year = {{2026}},
}