Measuring Strategic Entrepreneurship with a Circular Economy Approach in Construction Projects

Objective: The construction industry is one of the largest and most energy-intensive industries in the country, contributing greatly to environmental pollution and resource waste. It can be acknowledged that the construction industry, as one of the most important and fundamental industries in the development of the country, plays a major role in the consumption of national resources and capital. The circular economy challenges the thinking of the linear economy with the aim of maximizing the use of resources and minimizing waste. Implementing a circular economy in the construction industry can bring many positive changes, but to achieve this, fundamental changes are needed in the methods of design, construction, use of resources, and innovation in business models. Strategic entrepreneurship can introduce innovative processes that help reduce costs and improve productivity in construction projects. In order for this economy to be implemented properly, there is a need to benefit from strategic entrepreneurship that can identify and exploit trends, needs, and market changes in the construction industry. Construction projects are known as one of the main sectors of the construction industry in the country, which have many impacts on the economy, environment, and society. In this regard, the use of strategic entrepreneurship in construction projects can play a key role in advancing the circular economy in the country. The aim of this research is to measure strategic entrepreneurship with a circular economy approach in construction projects.

Method: The methodology used in this research is based on “Research Onion” model. The Research Onion is a six-layer model that specifies the philosophy, approach, strategy, method, time horizon, and method of collecting and analyzing research data. In the Research Onion, a study is composed of different layers, in which each layer is affected by its higher layers. These layers, which are also arranged in order of importance, are: Layer 1: Research Philosophies, Layer 2: Research Approaches, Layer 3: Research Strategies, Layer 4: Research Methods, Layer 5: Research Time Horizon, and Layer 6: Research Data Collection and Analysis Method. This research is a mixed research that uses qualitative and quantitative methods to collect and analyze data. This research was conducted in 2024. The qualitative research method includes conducting 15 semi-structured interviews with CEOs and project managers of active construction companies in residential and commercial projects in Tehran in order to apply the circular economy approach in construction projects. In conducting the interviews, Jacqueline Kramer's Ten Principles of Circular Economy were considered, and ultimately 50 themes from the application of the Ten Principles of Circular Economy were extracted from the content of the interviewees. In a quantitative research method based on the Naeji and Sayadat Strategic Entrepreneurship Questionnaire, the status of each of the five components of strategic entrepreneurship with a circular economy approach in construction projects was assessed with the participation of 85 senior managers of construction contracting companies.

Results: The research findings indicate the average status of each of the five components of strategic entrepreneurship, namely Continuous innovation, Opportunity-based mindset, Proactive behaviour, Risk taking, and Capability of value creation, in the application of the circular economy approach in construction projects.

Conclusion: Rethinking and effective orientation in each of the components of strategic entrepreneurship by active companies in the construction industry should be given more special attention than before.