Achieving Sustainable Transdisciplinary Research in Construction Project Management

Abstract

Contemporary construction project management faces a significant challenge: the existing academic literature, spanning various disciplines, remains underutilised due to a lack of systematic integration for transdisciplinary collaboration. The primary purpose of this study is to forecast connected disciplinary thought through a novel bibliometric model, in the development of ‘co-theory analysis’, thereby identifying potential transdisciplinary collaboration gaps capable of effectively addressing transdisciplinary research in the field of construction project management through a theocratic lens of transdisciplinary perspectives. This novel method of exploring interdisciplinary theory utilises a detailed bibliometric analysis of project management literature from Scopus by identifying its interconnected relationship with construction project management, categorising papers by theory to reveal interdisciplinary intersections and potential collaborations. It statistically predicts research effectiveness, providing a roadmap for success across a series of disciplines. The analysis reveals significant, yet previously unexplored, theoretical intersections with a focus on construction project management and other co-keyword disciplines, cointegrated through theory to systematically map and analyse patterns in academic literature trends. These intersections suggest specific areas where collaborative research yields substantial potential advancements. Additionally, the study further identifies key institutions and academic experts whose combined expertise could be pivotal in bridging these identified research gaps. This novel bibliometric analysis method for statistical theory analysis is developed to enhance transdisciplinary collaboration and is a considerable contribution to the advancement of transdisciplinary research. Aligned with SDG 9, in addressing complex challenges and promoting sustainable industrialisation and innovation. It identifies key theories for use in construction project management, offering a framework for strategic academic transdisciplinary partnerships and targeted theoretical exploration for academics of any level.

Exploring the Transdisciplinary Nexus of Young People's Future Livelihoods and Relational Well-Being: A Bibliometric Approach

“…The study's pragmatic epistemological philosophy aligns with the transdisciplinary mixedmethods nature of scientific enquiry, supporting the use of multiple approaches to explore the nexus between young people's future livelihoods and Relational Well-Being (RWB). Pragmatism is chosen for its flexibility in employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, enabling a comprehensive understanding of the complex phenomena without being constrained by the limitations of any single methodological viewpoint [3,4,53,70,91,92].…”

“…This perspective shifts the focus from individual economic achievements to communal and relational aspects of wellbeing, offering insights into how social ties and networks function as critical resources for young people navigating precarious livelihoods [53,75,[87][88][89][90]. The methodological choice of conducting a bibliometric analysis using the Scopus database to explore publications from 2018 to 2023 is strategic, offering a comprehensive overview of current research trends and gaps [3,78,82,87]. This approach not only highlights the evolving discourse around young people's livelihoods and Relational Well-Being (RWB) but also situates these discussions within the broader context of sustainability, emphasising the need for sustainable livelihood approaches that are sensitive to the relational dimensions of wellbeing [53,[68][69][70][71][72][73][74].…”

“…The deductive approach is utilised in the bibliometric analysis to test existing theories against empirical data from publications. Simultaneously, the inductive approach allows for the generation of new theoretical insights based on the observed patterns and themes emerging from the bibliometric data as derived from qualitative analyses, drawing on the nuances of a comprehensive dataset [3,4,78].…”

“…A bibliometric descriptive statistics analysis followed by an inferential statistical analysis strategy is employed to systematically review and analyse the literature on young people's livelihoods and Relational Well-Being (RWB) in the Global South, identifying trends, gaps, and the transdisciplinary nature of existing research. Additionally, thematic analysis of specific studies, analysed from infocratic lens are analysed for future studies in alignment with the study's research sub questions within the Global South to complement the bibliometric findings, offering depth, nuance and context to the quantitative data and highlighting unique instances of livelihood and Relational Well-Being (RWB) interrelations [3,4,53,93].…”

“…World Economic Forum, Youth Perspectives, How Africa's youth will drive global growth, Aug 16, 2023. South Africa has the highest youth unemployment rate in the Global South [1,2]. A complex ontological tapestry of transdisciplinary socio-economic and socio-cultural dynamics becomes evident [3,4]. The rapid race for a renewable and sustainable energy transition challenges the traditional models of employment and livelihoods in the Global South [5,6].…”