Social responsibility of major infrastructure projects in China

• Published in: International journal of project management Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 537 - 548
• Main Authors: Zeng, S.X., Ma, H.Y., Lin, H., Zeng, R.C., Tam, Vivian W.Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2015; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Infrastructure; Major infrastructure projects; Project life-cycle; Project management; Social responsibility; Stakeholders; Studies; Sustainable development; China; Project life-cycle; Stakeholders; Social responsibility; Major infrastructure projects
• ISSN: 0263-7863; 1873-4634
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijproman.2014.07.007

China has implemented a large number of major infrastructure projects (MIPs) over the last three decades. Social responsibility management is crucial for MIPs' sustainable development. What is social responsibility of major infrastructure (MIP-SR)? To answer this question, this article proposes the concept and key issues of major infrastructure projects' social responsibility (MIP-SR) and develops a comprehensive conceptual framework for MIP-SR, which covers three dimensions: (i) project life-cycle dynamics; (ii) stakeholder's heterogeneity and (iii) social responsibility interactivity. The three-dimensional framework provides a systematic framework for MIP-SR's academic research and practical implementation, which in turn promotes the sustainable development of MIPs.
•We propose a concept of major infrastructure projects' social responsibility (MIP-SR).•We describe major conflicts in MIP-SR and key issues of MIP-SR.•We develop a three-dimension conceptual framework for MIP-SR.•MIP-SR covers three dimensions: dynamics, heterogeneity, and interactivity.