Linkage Between Critical Indicators and Performance Outcomes of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Construction Industry: A Review of the Past Two Decades (2004–2024)

Abstract

Effective corporate social responsibility (CSR) implementation is essential for construction enterprises to achieve sustainable development. However, existing reviews on CSR indicators and performance measures predominantly employ a single review method or focus on non-construction sectors, with limited exploration of their interrelationships. To address this gap, this state-of-the-art review synthesizes findings from 77 relevant papers published over the past two decades in Scopus, adopting a combined methodological approach that integrates science mapping and systematic review techniques. The scientometric analysis, conducted using VOSviewer, examines annual publication trends, key journals, prominent keywords, contributing countries, and influential documents. A subsequent systematic discussion utilizing content analysis identifies seven critical CSR indicators (e.g., environmental sustainability, corporate practices, and employee well-being) and eight performance dimensions (e.g., customer satisfaction and corporate reputation). A conceptual linkage framework is developed to elucidate the relationships between these indicators and performance dimensions, highlighting the most influential CSR factors. To enhance the robustness of the findings, a post-survey interview method is employed to validate and compare the systematic discussion results, revealing several cognitive gaps between academic perspectives and industry practices. Finally, future research directions and study limitations are discussed. By integrating the mixed-review results with voices of the construction industry, this review provides an objective and holistic reference for CSR scholars in the construction sector and offers managerial and policy insights for industry stakeholders and policymakers.

1. Introduction

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) encompasses environmental, social, and ethical responsibilities, aligning with societal needs and expectations [1]. Over the past two decades (2004–2024), CSR has progressively permeated the construction industry [2]. The characteristics of the construction industry links it closely to multiple sustainable development challenges, including economic, environmental, and social concerns [3]. The effective implementation of CSR has been shown to significantly enhance environmental and social performance within the construction sector [4]. Ref. [5] suggested that integrating CSR comprehensively is a strategic objective for construction firms, enabling them to gain a competitive advantage while delivering substantial benefits to both society and the environment. Consequently, understanding and reviewing the critical indicators of CSR and their impact on performance is essential for industry practitioners and policymakers to facilitate effective CSR implementation.

Studies on CSR implementation in construction have been prosperous in recent years. Ref. [6] studied potential enhancement paths for CSR in construction enterprises through importance–performance analysis. Further, Ref. [7] empirically summarized and investigated the barriers to CSR implementation and corresponding solutions. After one year of observation, key practices of CSR in construction were identified by Ref. [8] asan implied encouragement for industry practitioners and scholars to contribute further research. Based on the above, Ref. [9] developed an index system to help practitioners understand the significance of each CSR group. As CSR has widely been studied within the construction sector, a state-of-the-art review of CSR critical indicators and performance outcomes in construction and their linkages would help identify the most efficient way to improve corporations’ overall performance and would contribute to identifying current research gaps and future research topics.

Several review articles have investigated the indicators or performance outcomes of CSR implementation in the construction industry. Recently, Ref. [10] adopted a systematic literature approach to review 122 empirical studies and propose a research agenda to integrate a framework of CSR implementation. This was followed by a systematic literature review conducted in Ref. [5] to perceive the dimensions, strategies, and performance outcomes of CSR implementation. Moreover, Ref. [11] reviewed the indicators for CSR practices and green building in construction to retrieve hot research topics. Ref. [12] revealed current CSR research on stakeholder engagement and SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) compliance using a systematic review. Many other studies that focus on the linkage between critical indicators and performance outcomes are either empirical articles or are not directed at the construction sector. Ref. [13] collected and explored the indicators of CSR practices in the context of achieving productive business profitability in construction. Ref. [14] investigated the linkage between key points and performance outcomes disclosed by two types of companies’ reports. The relationship between CSR and sustainable performance in business was studied in Ref. [15] using an online questionnaire survey. Most of these empirical studies adopted a primary or secondary data collection method, which is conditioned by the limitations of scope and occasionality. Meanwhile, existing review studies only applied a quantitative or qualitative method. None of these previous review studies has thoroughly scientometrically utilized a science mapping approach or bibliometric analysis. Hence, there is a need for a more state-of-the-art review to identify the critical indicators, performance outcomes, and linkages of CSR implementation in the construction sector. To do so, the current research will address the following research questions:

RQ1: What is the annual publication trend of this research area in the past two decades?

RQ2: Which keywords, countries/regions, and articles have been the most influential in this research domain over the past two decades?

RQ3: What are the indicators and performance outcomes of CSR that have received the most scholarly attention over the past two decades? How do they relate to each other?

RQ4: How do practitioners in the construction industry perceive these CSR indicators? To what extent do their perspectives align with or diverge from the findings of the systematic review?

RQ5: What is the future research agenda in this research area?

In light of the above, this paper aims to provide a quantitative (scientometric) review and qualitative (systematic) review approach of 77 published papers retrieved from Scopus, using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology to review the latest critical indicators and performance outcomes of CSR implementation in the construction sector from 2004 to 2024 (years inclusive). This paper also puts an emphasis on the linkage between critical indicators and performance outcomes on CSR implementation, based on the identified indicators and performance dimensions. A post-survey interview method is then applied to validate the findings from systematic review and further discuss the cognition gaps on several indicators’ impact on CSR performance. Lastly, future research directions and limitations are proposed.

The overview of this study is organized as follows. Section 2 unfolds the research methods used in this review study. Section 3 spotlights the scientometric analysis results of this paper. The summary and linkage framework of critical indicators and performance outcomes, practical views from industry, future research directions, and limitations are elaborated in Section 4. Finally, Section 5 concludes this review study.

2. Previous Studies

2.1. Heterogeneity in the Understanding of CSR

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an evolving concept with varied interpretations across industries and regions, influenced by distinct economic, social, and environmental priorities [16]. At its core, CSR encompasses a commitment to ethical behavior, sustainable development, and societal well-being beyond mere profit-making. However, its precise definition varies significantly, as it is shaped by industry-specific challenges, stakeholder expectations, and cultural influences. As a cross-disciplinary topic, identifying these differences clarifies which aspects of CSR are most relevant to construction specifically and further helps in forming critical indicators and performance outcomes in a construction-centric context.

In this research, we identify the definitions and focuses of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices across eight industries, highlighting their unique approaches and priorities. Focusing on the construction industry, CSR is increasingly regarded as a critical obligation rather than an option [17]. It promotes a secure and inclusive workplace and emphasizes sustainable construction practices, and ensures responsible resource management to mitigate environmental harm as well as workplace accidents [18]. In the tourism sector, CSR prioritizes sustainable and ethical practices that protect the environment [19], preserve cultural heritage [20], and support local communities to ensure the industry’s long-term social and environmental viability [21]. Meanwhile, in the food industry, CSR focuses on producing safe, healthy, and ethically sourced products, while incorporating sustainable farming, fair wages, and reduced packaging waste [22,23]. For the energy industry, CSR primarily focuses on promoting renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and ensuring sustainable resource use [24]. This approach involves ethical energy production, community engagement, and operational transparency, aiming to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship [25,26]. CSR in the tobacco industry addresses public health concerns by emphasizing harm reduction, responsible marketing, and transparency in product risks, including youth smoking prevention initiatives [27,28]. Similarly, the healthcare industry’s CSR emphasizes patient safety, quality care, equitable healthcare access, ethical treatment practices, community health outreach, and environmental sustainability, all of which work to enhance public health and uphold care standards [29,30]. In the education sector, [31] identified the knowledge and awareness that university students have about the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the opinion they have regarding how their professional practice can help achieve them. Finally, CSR in the banking sector underscores ethical lending, financial transparency, and community development by promoting responsible investment, financial inclusion, and the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, helping build trust, drive sustainable growth, and contribute positively to society [32,33,34]. Collectively, these perspectives illustrate the diverse yet interrelated dimensions of CSR across industries.

2.2. Review Studies on CSR in the Construction Sector

As corporate social responsibility (CSR) has garnered increasing global attention, the development of CSR within the construction sector has been relatively slow, thus leaving numerous opportunities for further growth and improvement. To help managers in the construction industry effectively capitalize on these opportunities and promote CSR development, several review studies have been conducted. Ref. [5] examined the state of CSR in the construction sector, providing a comprehensive overview of CSR implementation. Ref. [11] reviewed the key drivers and barriers faced by government agencies in developing policies that encourage the adoption of CSR practices in construction. Ref. [35] conducted a systematic literature review, identifying the four following key research themes in the construction sector: (1) CSR perception, (2) CSR dimensions, (3) CSR implementation, and (4) CSR performance. Ref. [36] focused on the evolution of CSR research perspectives and proposed a framework integrating stakeholder management and power theory as a future research agenda. Additionally, to enhance the global competitiveness of the construction industry, Ref. [37] reviewed fundamental concepts and evaluation methods related to CSR, offering insights into the development of CSR evaluation models.

Table 1. Summary of review articles on CSR in the construction industry.

Source	Timespan	Research Method	Research Domain
[5]	2000–2016	Systematic literature review	Reveal the state of CSR practice
[11]	2006–2018	Systematic literature review	Identify drivers, motivations, and barriers for CSR
[36]	Not specified	Systematic literature review	Review transitions of research perspectives on CSR
[35]	2000–2017	Systematic literature review	Reveal research themes of current CSR research
[37]	Not specified	Systematic literature review	Analyze basic thoughts and evaluation ways of CSR

presents the existing review work on CSR practices in the construction sector.

Building on these studies, it is evident that CSR has been explored across various sectors in recent years. Although numerous studies have addressed CSR in the construction industry, there is a notable absence of scientometric research analyzing critical indicators and performance outcomes in CSR. Furthermore, a framework outlining the relationship between these indicators and CSR performance remains largely unexplored. To address these gaps, this review study aims to employ a combined review approach to identify the latest CSR indicators and performance metrics in the construction industry. The study will also develop a framework and validate it through interviews to identify the most influential indicators, followed by necessary adjustments to refine the framework.

3. Research Methods

This study utilized a “combined review approach”, including both a science mapping review (SMR) and a systematic literature review (SLR). The SMR approach is a quantitative method that uses VOSviewer 1.6.18 to perform scientometric analysis in the research area concerned and provides a quantitative insight into the dynamics of academic research; it also measures research focus and maps current scientific knowledge and its evolution in a specific domain based on a body of the literature, thereby aiding in informed decision-making and strategic planning [38,39]. The SLR approach is a practical technique for extracting and synthesizing data (or information) to grasp a phenomenon and provide literature references on a particular domain to propose future directions [40]. As the current review aims to visually analyze research related to corporate social responsibility over the past two decades and identify key indicators, performance outcomes, and their interrelationships, the mixed-review approach can combine the advantages of SMR and SLR to provide precise bibliographic information and a novel contribution to specific research domains. It also eliminates subjectivity, to a certain extent, in order to conduct a more comprehensive literature review [41], and established a conceptual framework by identifying a common set of indicators and performance dimensions to reveal relationships and, furthermore, propose future directions. The detailed workflow of the review is illustrated in Figure 1.

3.1. Bibliometric Retrieval

Following the PRISMA protocol set out in [42], we conducted a literature search of the Scopus database from the start of the database records to the 10th of July 2024. The PRISMA technique was introduced in [43] as a tool for screening and evaluating publications to ensure all relevant publications are collected. Figure 2 shows the steps involved in applying the PRISMA technique. The first step is to define the inclusion and exclusion criteria. In the first step, only those publications related to “engineering subjects” and in “English” were included. The type of source was limited to “articles” or “review articles” with the “final publication stage”. There was no restriction regarding the publication year. The implementation of this first screening step resulted in the dataset being reduced from 618 to 115 articles. Duplicates within Scopus were then removed, further reducing the dataset to 112 documents. Following this, the remaining publications from the previous step were subjected to abstract screening as the second step of the PRISMA technique (e.g., “Non-CSR/construction/indicator/performance-related”). Some articles such as [44,45], though containing the term “CSR” in their abstract, referred instead to cyclic stress ratios and carbon–sulfur ratios. Another type of article (e.g., [46]), although within the context of corporate social responsibility, focused on the electrical industry and space industry. This step resulted in the exclusion of 28 publications that, on further analysis, were deemed unrelated to our research. The remaining publications from the second step, 84 publications, were examined through the evaluation of the full text of each publication to ensure their eligibility for the research topic. This step resulted in the exclusion of another 8 articles for a new total of 76 articles. By either tracing the references cited in key articles (backward snowballing) or finding newer studies that cite them (forward snowballing), a snowballing search strategy as an article search approach is often used in systematic reviews [47]. The next step involved a second researcher, who retrieved and scrutinized related articles in Scopus until they were satisfied with the saturation of the sample. As a result, one more article was included after using the forward snowballing strategy. After this final modification, a total of 77 papers were adopted as a sample of the literature for further scientometric analysis.

3.2. Scientometric Review

The second step of the review consisted of the scientometric analysis using VOSviewer. A scientometric review is a science mapping review technique for evaluating the impact of research output and reveals emerging topics by providing the basic functionality needed to build, browse, and explore bibliometric networks in a particular field [48]; it also serves as an effective method for mitigating subjective biases in research [49]. Science mapping, which can be defined as the visualization of bibliometric data, usually follows bibliometric or scientometric analysis. Bibliometric analysis focuses on the literature but does not provide deeper insights into the collected literature sample. On the other hand, scientometric analysis provides further insights and analysis by quantifying scholars’ and countries’ contributions in the given research area and identifying trends and patterns. In this case, the 77 sample articles were used to perform a scientometric review, which yielded results on the impact of co-occurrence of keywords, country/region, and document analysis. The results seek to furnish the knowledge networks of critical indicators and performance outcomes of CSR implementation in construction.

VOSviewer 1.6.18 as an open-source software used to create and visualize bibliometric data [50] and was employed for this purpose. In the study, 77 sample articles were imported into VOSviewer to explore the frequencies of and connections between keywords and countries, as well as to identify and analyze the most cited documents.

3.3. Systematic Discussion

To obtain a deeper understanding for further generating managerial and academic implications of the critical indicators and performance outcomes of CSR in the construction industry, a systematic review was conducted after the bibliometric and science mapping analysis. According to our knowledge, scholars in several research areas have previously combined scientometric review with systematic review to provide a more comprehensive and holistic analysis in a construction context. For instance, [51] adopted a systematic literature review and science mapping analysis to identify the main research topics associated with self-powered IoT (Internet of Things) sensors in construction. Similarly, [52] used this combined method to review the impact of artificial intelligence on organizational justice and project performance in construction. To summarize the critical indicators and performance outcomes of CSR, we applied content analysis, with the help of NVivo15 software. NVivo 15 is a qualitative data analysis software designed to help researchers manage, analyze, and visualize unstructured data, such as text, video, and social media content [53]. It is widely used for qualitative research, allowing researchers to organize and categorize information, identify patterns, and make data-driven insights [54]. Content analysis is a systematic method of analyzing the content of written, verbal, or visual communication, involving studying and categorizing the characteristics of and examining the frequency and relationships of certain words, themes, or concepts within a set of communications [55]. In NVivo, codes refer to the basic unit of information extracted from the text aimed at developing meaningful insights into the investigated area. This review began with initial coding, organizing these into themes using NVivo, and then grouping them into similar categories to form axial codes. These axial codes were further refined, reviewed, and grouped to form selective codes, representing the integral indicators/performance outcomes of our study. A linkage framework was developed to demonstrate the relationships between critical indicators and the performance of CSR implementation and identify the most impactful indicators. In addition, to validate the robustness of the results concluded from the framework, 8 semi-structured interviews with senior managers in the construction industry were arranged to validate and adjust the influential indicators. Finally, future directions were constructed, based on the keywords analysis, to enable academic scholars and construction industry participants to explore the implementation of CSR in the construction sector from a more in-depth perspective.

4. Results

4.1. Annual Publication Trends of Critical Indicators and Performance of CSR Implementation from 2004 to July 2024 (Years Inclusive)

The annual distribution of retrieved articles between the years 2004 and 2024 is shown in Figure 3, with an overall trend of growth. Fewer articles were published before 2017, except in 2012, when four articles were published. Except in 2020, when only three related papers were published, seven to fourteen papers were published each year from 2018 to 2023. It can be seen that the number of articles published each year, starting in 2018, annually increase. The exception in 2020 might have been due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused construction projects to be delayed or canceled, and further led to a decrease in research activities within the construction sector, including those related to CSR. From 2021, the increase in published articles may have been related to the drive towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the United Nations in 2015, as well as other factors, such as digital and sustainable transformation in construction enterprises and resumed work and production after COVID-19. Overall, the results show that this research area has attracted increasing attention from the academic community and further research papers are expected to be published in this research area.

4.2. Number of Articles Sorted by Journals with Five-Year Impact Factor

Table 2. Number of published articles in peer-reviewed journals with a five-year impact factor (2020–2024).

Journal Sources	No. of Relevant Articles	Impact Factor
Journal of Cleaner Production	12	10.2
Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management	8	4.2
Construction Management and Economics	5	3.8
International Journal of Construction Management	4	4.0
Sustainability (Switzerland)	4	3.6
Buildings	4	3.2
Energies	4	3.0
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management	3	4.8
Journal of Safety Research	2	4.2
Construction Innovation	2	3.6
Architectural Science Review	2	2.7
Construction Economics and Building	2	1.8
Others	25

illustrates the distribution of the influential journals with at least two articles published on this topic and the corresponding five-year impact factor. The Journal of Cleaner Production has made the greatest contribution (i.e., 11 articles) to this study area. Following that, the second highest number of published articles was achieved by Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management (i.e., eight articles). These two peer-reviewed journals contributed 25% of the total number of publications. The impact factor of a publisher indicates its reputation, its contributions to and the influence of its articles on a specific research area. It shows that most publishers received an impact factor higher than 2.0 (i.e., Buildings, Energies) and the topmost publisher in terms of impact factors was the Journal of Cleaner Production with 10.2. Thus, it can be concluded that almost all the articles written on critical indicators and outcomes of CSR implementation in construction have been published in reputable journals, revealing the significance of this topic in the construction sector.

4.3. Keywords Co-Occurrence Analysis

Keyword analysis delivers an opportunity to identify key research interests in a particular field [56]. A network of keyword analysis generated by VOSviewer offers a comprehensive knowledge of existing research interests and how they are communicatively connected and organized [57]. In keyword co-occurrence networks, the size of the label is related to the frequency of the keyword, a strong relationship between two nodes indicates their proximity to each other, and the color of the label can be used to classify different domains [58]. Author keywords were used in this scientometric analysis due to their representativeness and readability. Regarding the “minimum number of occurrences”, a value of 2 was determined, and 59 of the 383 keywords met these inclusive criteria. Some general keywords such as “corporate social responsibility”, “CSR”, “ESG”, “construction industry”, “factors”, “review”, “construction”, and “management” were removed as they are close to the search strings. Some similar keywords like “corporate sustainability”, “sustainability” and “sustainable construction” are combined as “sustainability”; “disclosure”, “voluntary disclosure”, and “CSR disclosure” are combined as disclosure; and “sustainability reporting” and “sustainability report” are combined as “sustainability reporting”. In addition, country/region keywords such as United Kingdom, Australia, and Singapore were also excluded, as these terms will be analyzed in the following section. Finally, 37 keywords were selected from the science mapping shown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 4, the distance and connection lines illustrate the interrelatedness between pairs of keywords, providing insight into how various concepts are co-studied in the context of CSR implementation in construction. For example, the proximity of “sustainability” to “practices” highlights the growing focus on understanding why sustainability is central to the construction industry and how it influences engineering practices. This relationship reflects the practical need for construction companies to integrate sustainable practices into their operations to meet both regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations. The keywords in Figure 4 are grouped into clusters, with those in the same cluster showing stronger internal relationships. For instance, terms like “construction companies”, “global reporting initiatives”, and “stakeholder engagement” often appear together in the literature, indicating that these concepts are frequently explored in tandem to understand how construction firms manage their social and environmental responsibilities. The font size of each keyword reflects its frequency in the sample articles, with the most frequently studied terms being “sustainability”, “sustainability reporting”, and “disclosure of information”. These keywords are central to CSR implementation, as they indicate the industry’s focus on transparent reporting and accountability.

In

Table 3. Quantitative summary of co-occurrence analysis of author keywords.

Keywords	Occurrence	Average Publication Year	Total Link Strength
Sustainability	29	2017	19
Sustainability reporting	7	2018	9
Disclosure	6	2011	9
Project management	6	2017	2
Content analysis	4	2021	3
Green innovation	3	2022	0
Legitimacy	3	2020	0
Practices	3	2021	1
Renewable energy	3	2022	0
Stakeholder analysis	3	2007	1
Stakeholder management	3	2014	1
Stakeholder theory	3	2017	3
Triple bottom line	3	2019	3

, the top three keywords, “sustainability”, “sustainability reporting”, and “disclosure”, appear twenty-nine, seven, and six times, respectively, underscoring their prominence in the research on CSR performance outcomes in construction. This frequency pattern also explains why these keywords are associated with the largest nodes in the VOSviewer network, signaling their critical role in CSR discourse.

The analysis reveals trends in CSR research over time. Articles published before 2017 largely centered on CSR from a stakeholder perspective, emphasizing the importance of engaging with stakeholders to address social and environmental concerns. However, post-2017, there was a shift towards focusing on the sustainability of CSR practices in construction. In 2022, the introduction of advanced green technologies, such as green innovations and renewable energy, became more prominent in the literature, reflecting a growing interest in how technological advancements contribute to sustainable construction practices. Notably, “sustainability” has the highest total strength of linkages, suggesting that this concept is not only fundamental to CSR but also intricately linked to other key themes in the construction industry, such as stakeholder engagement, reporting practices, and the adoption of green technologies.

4.4. Countries/Regions Analysis

In this study, a network of countries/regions’ influence was generated using VOSviewer to show their research contributions and interrelated links. The minimum number of articles per country and a minimum number of citations per country were set at two and two, respectively. As a result, of the 31 countries/regions, 14 countries/regions countries fulfilled the requirements visualized in Figure 5. Moreover, it is worth noting that the ranking of countries/regions in

Table 4. Countries/regions contributing to the study of critical indicators and performance outcomes for CSR implementation in construction.

Country/Region	Publications	Citations	Total Link Strength	Average Publication Year
China (mainland)	17	618	16	2020
Australia	15	745	19	2019
United Kingdom	12	194	7	2016
Hong Kong	8	465	5	2016
United States	6	348	6	2016
Taiwan	4	85	3	2018
Canada	3	229	1	2014
India	3	2	0	2023
Malaysia	3	29	5	2021
Pakistan	3	24	4	2022
Brazil	2	49	0	2018
Ghana	2	25	3	2020
Singapore	2	48	1	2014
Spain	2	51	0	2021

is according to the number of contributions.

Figure 5 and Table 4 show the interrelationships and specific information of the 14 influential countries/regions. As can be seen from Figure 5 and Table 4, mainland China, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong are in possession of the top four positions, as these countries had the largest number of publications. Australia received the highest number of citations and the highest total link strength. The strong links between Australia and other countries are expected due to this high number of citations. Surprisingly, Canada ranks behind Taiwan and the United Kingdom in the number of publications, but it has a large number of citations. This may be affected by joint research with renowned scholars or institutions and active participation in international conferences and seminars, which can lead to higher citation rates due to the broader dissemination and recognition of the work. Notably, Canada and Singapore were the first to pioneer the study of this research domain in 2014. Despite being the most productive country, China started CSR-focused study in 2020 on average, which is relatively late compared with the whole. The reason may be due to the 14th Five-Year Plan for China’s National Economic and Social Development, which was published in 2020, which emphasizes sustainable development in construction. India and Pakistan have also been studying the field for the past two years. These results illustrate that the research studies on this topic are widely studied globally.

4.5. Document Analysis

Document analysis using VOSviewer evaluates the influence of the retrieved articles on critical indicators and performance outcomes of CSR implementation in construction. In the selection of the literature sample, the minimum number of citations was set at 50, and a total of 13 articles fulfilled this threshold.

Table 5. Summary of influential publications on critical indicators and performance outcomes for CSR implementation in construction.

Publication	Title	Citations	Normalized Citation Rate
[38]	“A bibliometric review of green building research 2000–2016”	187	2.99
[59]	“A corporate social responsibility indicator system for construction enterprises”	227	2.73
[11]	“Drivers, motivations, and barriers to the implementation of corporate social responsibility practices by construction enterprises: a review”	126	2.01
[60]	“Key activity areas of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the construction industry: a study of China”	119	1.55
[61]	“Integrating building information modeling (BIM) and leed system at the conceptual design stage of sustainable buildings”	158	1.43
[62]	“Examining the business impact of owner commitment to sustainability”	69	1.00
[63]	“Project safety as a sustainable competitive advantage”	70	1.00
[64]	“Exploring critical success factors for stakeholder management in construction projects”	165	1.00
[65]	“Corporate corruption prevention, sustainable governance and legislation: first exploratory evidence from the Italian scenario”	51	0.82
[66]	“The state of sustainability reporting in the construction sector”	58	0.70

shows the normalized citations for the top 10 influential articles.

Table 5 illustrates that the highest number of citations (i.e., 227) and the highest normalized citation rate (i.e., 2.99) were associated with Refs. [38,59], respectively. It is also indicated that most of the documents listed above in

Table 6. Summary of seven-dimensional critical indicators of CSR implementation.

Critical Indicators for CSR Implementation
References	ES1	ES2	CP1	CP2	CP3	EW1	EW2	EW3	SE1	SE2	SE3	SC1	SC2	CE1	PM1	PM2	PM3	PM4
[63]						X
[62]												X
[68]											X
[64]										X
[69]						X
[70]			X
[71]	X		X			X	X		X					X
[59]	X		X		X	X	X	X	X					X		X
[72]	X							X				X
[73]				X
[66]				X
[74]														X
[61]																	X
[60]	X		X					X					X			X
[75]			X		X	X		X	X					X	X	X
[76]	X						X	X
[77]	X		X			X	X	X		X					X			X
[78]	X		X														X
[79]						X
[36]									X
[80]									X
[81]														X
[82]	X		X			X	X		X			X	X	X		X	X
[38]		X
[83]		X							X				X
[84]			X											X
[85]			X			X	X	X							X
[11]							X		X		X				X
[86]																		X
[87]		X		X		X							X	X
[88]			X	X
[89]									X
[90]	X		X				X		X					X	X		X
[91]		X							X
[92]		X
[93]			X		X		X								X	X
[94]						X	X		X						X
[95]						X	X	X
[96]											X
[97]	X		X						X			X		X		X
[98]	X
[99]		X
[100]			X					X
[101]						X		X
[102]							X					X			X
[103]							X							X
[104]											X
[105]														X
[106]															X
[8]	X		X									X
[107]		X
[108]		X															X
[109]			X							X							X
[110]			X							X
[111]			X
[112]										X
[113]															X
[17]	X										X
[114]														X
Sub-total	13	8	19	4	3	13	13	10	13	5	5	6	4	13	10	6	6	2
Total	21		26			36			23			10		13	24

focused on factors influencing the corporate social responsibility of construction enterprises [11,59,60]. Other articles representing more traditional corporate social responsibility research include corporate social responsibility report [66], sustainability [62,63,67], stakeholder management and commitment [59,62], corporate corruption [65], and advanced technology [67].

5. Discussion

5.1. Seven Dimensions of Critical Indicators for CSR Implementation in Construction

According to [59], the critical indicators for CSR implementation refer to key issues for measuring construction corporate performance. To identify and connect the corporation’s overall performance, the investigation of critical indicators for CSR implementation was based on the corporate level. In this section, a content analysis method with NVivo 15 was adopted to systematically extract critical indicators and performance outcomes for CSR implementation through 77 articles, further extracting and summarizing them. Firstly, 61 variables were found as the critical indicators. Subsequently, some critical indicators with the same meaning were combined. Finally, 23 variables of critical indicators for CSR implementation in construction are identified in Table 6. It is worth noting that from 2004 to 2010, the focus of CSR indicators primarily centered on employee well-being, stakeholder engagement, and social contribution. During the subsequent decade (2011–2021), scholars significantly broadened the scope of the indicators, incorporating a wider array of themes. Beginning in 2022, the field has undergone further refinement, with increased emphasis on environmental sustainability, social contribution, and project management.

5.1.1. Environmental Sustainability

Environmental preservation (ES1) and green building (ES2) are central to environmental sustainability in construction. Environmental preservation refers to actions by construction companies to minimize their negative environmental impacts [8,59,60]. Ref. [38] defined green building as promoting energy and environmental performance in construction. Ref. [83] emphasized green lifestyles as crucial for sustainable development in the construction industry. Critical factors influencing green building include proactive environmental responsibility [91,99]. Environmental indicator disclosure allows for better emission calculations and timely environmental protection plans [98]. In addition, according to Ref. [16], resource-rich companies may have more resources and infrastructure to adopt green building technologies, while smaller firms may face budget or expertise limitations, potentially affecting the scope and effectiveness of their environmental initiatives.

5.1.2. Corporate Practices

CSR in construction integrates social and environmental concerns into business operations [59]. The following four key indicators are identified: fair and ethical operations (CP1), corporate reporting (CP2), company culture (CP3), and stakeholder engagement (CP4). Operating fairly and ethically is vital, requiring robust regulatory systems for enforcing laws and policies [82,111]. Effective CSR implementation is driven by mature regulatory frameworks [93,109]. The size of the company also impacts CSR practices, with larger firms having more resources to establish robust systems, while smaller companies may face challenges in fully integrating CSR practices [115]. CSR and sustainability reporting promote company image, market success, competitive advantage, and reputational capital [66,73,87,88]. A strong company culture attracts and retains top talent, aligning with broader CSR goals [59,75].

5.1.3. Employee Well-Being

Key indicators of employee well-being include occupational health and safety (EW1), knowledge and skills development (EW2), and employee rights (EW3). Occupational health and safety are top priorities in construction CSR [59,77]. Current practices often focus more on the presentation than on actual implementation [69]. Enhancing CSR through employee education and training on local laws and codes of conduct improves performance [11], especially for small-size companies which may struggle to allocate sufficient resources, leading to the inconsistent implementation of employee well-being initiatives [116]. Extending training to students positively impacts community and career planning [103]. Employee rights encompass fair treatment, privacy, and interests’ protection, reflecting a commitment to human rights and dignity [60,75,101].

5.1.4. Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder engagement is crucial for CSR in construction [117]. Key indicators include stakeholder relationships (SE1), management (SE2), and governmental regulation and support (SE3). Strong stakeholder relationships build trust and confidence in construction firms [82]. Stakeholder management, involving primary and secondary groups, impacts project performance [89,90]. Effective stakeholder management supports sustainable construction practices [64,109,112]. Diverse stakeholder expectations influence the adoption of technical innovations and project delivery [118,119]. Governmental support promotes green innovation and CSR, while its absence is a barrier [11,96,104]. Additionally, governments can offer relationship-building, providing platforms for networking with various size companies, and facilitating access to regulatory guidance [120]. Additionally, offering incentives for stakeholder-focused CSR initiatives can encourage smaller companies to prioritize and improve engagement practices [121].

5.1.5. Social Contribution

Social commitment (SC1) receives the most attention in the social contribution dimension. Ref. [72] adopted a regression analysis and the results revealed that social commitment has the most significant positive impact on both financial and non-financial performance. At the corporate level, its contribution to CSR implementation at the executive level translates to better planning for sustainable practices in a construction project [62]. Welfare and care (SC2) are also vital, with private enterprises often lacking awareness compared to state-owned enterprises [87]. Welfare and care enhance employee retention and innovation [83]. Meanwhile, considering the lack of the awareness or capacity to prioritize social commitment and welfare programs, Ref. [122] suggested that small companies can start with low-cost initiatives to improve their social contribution, such as employee volunteering program or partnering with local schools to provide mentorship.

5.1.6. Community Engagement

Community involvement (CE1) and active participation in local affairs are crucial for CSR in construction [123]. A lack of community involvement will hinder sustainability in both small and large companies [87,90]. Corporate volunteering programs and educational experiences positively impact community knowledge and career choices [81,112]. Effective community participation improves CSR outcomes [71,82,84,97,105]. Attitudes towards community consultation among professionals are also crucial for effective construction [74].

5.1.7. Project Management

Project management in CSR includes supply chain management (PM1), project quality (PM2), technical innovation (PM3), and value sharing (PM4). A stable relationship with suppliers is essential for CSR [75]. The supply chain management research carried out in [77,102] highlighted CSR’s importance in construction firms. Ensuring supplier certification and resilience can reduce risks [85,93,106]. Quality and safety are also key areas of CSR [60,75]. Encouraging innovation enhances project quality [59,90,108]. Combining sustainability principles with BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology can improve design practices [61]. Economically constructing projects is fundamental to CSR [97]. Moreover, sharing knowledge and value reduces claims, increases profits, and saves lives.

5.2. Eight-Dimension of Performance for CSR in Construction

Customer satisfaction, which is critical for fostering loyalty and attracting new customers [59,94], scored highest in organizational performance and correlated positively with corporate image [72]. Ref. [112] emphasized that long-term client satisfaction is essential for balanced growth in the construction industry. Ref. [107] noted issues like inadequate customer satisfaction during project closure phases.

Good reputation builds public trust [11]. Ref. [82] integrated company reputation into partner performance, enhancing collective outcomes, while Ref. [73] highlighted its role in credibility and competitiveness. Attracting and retaining employees is a key CSR outcome [94]. Ref. [112] found that a sustainable framework fosters strong employee commitment. Refs. [83,100] argued that employee loyalty stems from focusing on their interests.

Promoting innovation is essential in CSR implementation in construction [12]. Technological innovations are part of economic sustainability and are driven by CSR incentives [78,89]. Ref. [118] examined the impact of diverse stakeholder expectations on construction innovation.

Corruption risk is a major threat to sustainable construction [124]. Ref. [65] and Ref. [94] emphasized corporate governance for corruption prevention. Ref. [106] underscored risk reduction as a competitive advantage in the unpredictable construction environment, advocating for safer practices [110].

CSR also demands financial efficiency [70,107]. Ref. [76] created a model to assess CSR performance using financial and non-financial indicators. Studies [80,99] explored the financial impacts of emission reduction and sustainable material pricing. Ref. [125] noted that CSR does not always guarantee the highest financial returns, depending on cost efficiency and CSR degree.

Environmental performance, encompassing resource conservation [38], biodiversity [107], and eco-friendliness [99], is extensively discussed. Ref. [92] prioritized environmental evaluation in LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design)-certified projects, while Ref. [71] highlighted its dominance in CSR dimensions. Ref. [91] explored factors for efficient CSR implementation in state-owned enterprises’ green transformation.

Efficient construction is crucial for CSR performance. Researchers emphasize its significance [74], with Ref. [102] noting its necessity for sustainable projects. Ref. [62] investigated CSR’s impact on construction efficiency, while Ref. [17] found that relationship-building and policy benefits enhance construction progress.

5.3. Linkage Between CSR Implementation Critical Indicators and Performance Outcomes in Construction

The effective implementation of CSR critical indicators is a prerequisite and requirement for construction enterprises to achieve excellent performance. Thus, summarizing the relationships between the critical indicators and performance outcomes of implementing CSR in construction appears crucial. Through a comprehensive audition of 77 samples, 23 critical indicators and 8 performance outcomes were identified and categorized. Subsequently, a conceptual linkage framework is illustrated and summarized in Figure 6 and

Table 7. Summary of the relationships in linkage framework between critical indicators and performance dimensions on CSR implementation in construction.

Item	Corporate Social Responsibility Performance Dimensions								Total	Rank
	Customer Satisfaction	Good Reputation	Attr. and Ret. Employees	Promote Innovation	Risk Reduction	Financial Profitability	Environment Friendly	Efficient Construction
ES1		√[8]				√[78]	√[78]		3	4
ES2	√[107]			√[107]		√[99,107]	√[92,99,107]		4	3
CP1			√[85,100,109]	√[78]	√[93,110]	√[70,110]	√[70,111]	√[70]	6	1
CP2					√[65,96]				1	11
CP3		√[66,73,87]			√[87]	√[88]			3	4
EW1		√[63]							1	11
EW2			√[17]		√[93]				2	8
EW3			√[100]						1	11
SE1				√[75,89]		√[11,80,89]	√[80]		3	4
SE2	√[112]	√[112]	√[112]		√[110]	√[110]			5	2
SE3				√[118]					1	11
SC1			√[81]					√[62]	2	8
SC2			√[83]						1	11
CE1					×[84]			×[74]	−2	18
PM1				√[75]	√[75,93,106]		√[11]		3	4
PM2					√[93]				1	11
PM3						√[78]	√[61,78]		2	8
PM4						√[97]			1	11
Note: √→improve; ×→inhibit

, respectively, to represent and summarize causal interactions and correlations between critical indicators and performance outcomes. To harvest a comprehensive and concise understanding of these connections, the seven most influential (those that affect performance in at least three dimensions) critical indicators’ connections will be discussed in the following subsections.

5.3.1. Operating Fairly and Ethically (CP₁)

The predominance of operating fairly and ethically in CSR implementation performance is unsurprising, given the extensive research highlighting the importance of ethical and fair operations. Ref. [126] empirically testified the positive effectiveness of ethical leadership and operation on CSR performance through PLS-SEM (Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling), while Ref. [127] found a strong link between work ethics, organizational fairness, and CSR performance. Ref. [82] found that building a strong company reputation can be achieved by regulating organizational learning. Ref. [85], through the empirical study of the supply chain, observed that implementing a fair and ethical CSR management system led to an increase in employees’ satisfaction, thus attracting and retaining them. Supporting this, Ref. [100] analyzed data from construction enterprises and concluded that an impartial CSR institutional arrangement is more likely to fulfill employees’ expectations and needs. Refs. [93,110] identified adherence to safety rules and procedures as an essential factor to successfully enhance safety performance and reducing risk in megaproject social responsibility. From an environmental standpoint, Ref. [109] highlighted the importance of ethical standards and regulations in monitoring and mitigating environmental impacts. Ref. [70] developed an integrated CSR management system for timely, cost-effective, and quality project delivery.

5.3.2. Stakeholder Management (SE₂)

Stakeholder management is also essential for CSR performance as it ensures that a company’s CSR efforts are relevant, credible, and supported by those impacted [128]. By integrating stakeholder feedback and concerns into their CSR strategies, companies can create more effective, sustainable, and impactful initiatives [129]. Ref. [112] formulated antecedents of sustainable Human Resource Management practices that would generate strong commitment from employees as internal stakeholders, a better brand name, and positive feedback from external stakeholders and customers and ultimately lead to long-term client satisfaction. Furthermore, the support and commitment of stakeholders such as clients, project managers, and planners not only mitigate risks, such as preventing irreparable loss to workers and their families, but also yield financial benefits through reduced costs related to compensation, medical expenses, and insurance [110].

5.3.3. Green Building (ES₂)

The significance of green building towards CSR performance lies in its ability to enhance environmental sustainability, reduce operational costs, and improve innovation and productivity [130]. By reviewing project management practices in construction in achieving sustainability, Ref. [107] proposed that green design integrated with sustainability will accelerate construction corporations’ embrace of innovative technologies, thus enhancing the success of harvesting client satisfaction. Additionally, the economic viability of marketing green design through sustainable construction materials has gained substantial traction [99]. Furthermore, green building serves as a cornerstone of sustainable development by minimizing energy consumption and promoting energy conservation [92].

5.3.4. Corporate Reporting (CP₂)

Several scholars have concluded that corporate reporting markedly boosts corporate reputation and image. For instance, Ref. [73], through discourse and content analysis of six corporations’ reports, concluded that the primary function of corporate reporting is to promote a positive company image. Meanwhile, by reviewing and examining standards, reporting, and literature, the findings of [66] illustrated that sustainability reporting can offer a competitive advantage for reputational capital. According to Ref. [87], CSR reports enable stakeholders to better understand cultural and institutional diversity, especially in the international construction environment, thereby reducing operational risk and facilitating accurate enterprise evaluations. Furthermore, as corporate reporting provides information about the capacity of the company to achieve sustainable goals, it has a positive impact on market success and further drives economic growth.

5.3.5. Stakeholder Relationship (SE₁)

Stakeholder relationships in CSR within the construction industry are vital for project success, which form the backbone of effective CSR practices, driving both the corporations’ and society’s sustainable development [84]. Ref. [89], through survey data from Chinese megaprojects and construction enterprises, demonstrated that interactions with secondary stakeholders positively enhance market opportunities and foster technological innovations in the construction industry. Ref. [80] studied diverse schemes of cost pooling in the carbon supply chain and concluded that the diversity relationship in contracts on outstanding carbon reduction significantly impacts both supply chain profitability and carbon reduction efficiency.

5.3.6. Governmental Regulation and Support (SE₃)

Governmental regulation and support provide the framework, incentives, and oversight that are vital for embedding CSR with real performance outcomes [131]. According to Ref. [78], governmental regulations and support exhibit a strong positive effect on technology innovation, which echoes the work of [132]. Ref. [68] reviewed the UK legislation and government policy relating to sustainability and found that legal and political reforms can affect industry behavior and provide a panacea to climate change. Ref. [11] stated that incentive policies developed by the government can also promote public–private partnerships and construction industry practices.

However, the effectiveness of these policies in promoting CSR implementation can vary significantly across regions and countries due to differences in regulatory environments and political contexts. In some regions, such as the European Union, stringent regulations around environmental sustainability and reporting practices have led to more widespread adoption of CSR initiatives within the construction sector [133]. In contrast, in emerging economies, weaker regulatory frameworks and a lack of government enforcement mechanisms can hinder the full implementation of CSR, despite the availability of supportive policies [134]. The role of government guidance and support is also affected by regional political climates: in countries with more centralized governance, such as China, CSR initiatives are often driven by top-down policies that prioritize large-scale, government-led infrastructure projects [135]. Meanwhile, in decentralized systems, like the United States, local governments may have varying degrees of influence, resulting in inconsistent CSR practices across different states [136]. Thus, understanding the specific impacts of government policies and their regional variations is crucial to comprehending how CSR practices are implemented across the global construction industry.

5.3.7. Supply Chain Management (PM₁)

Supply chain management has garnered much attention in the context of CSR practices in the past few years [137]. After a questionnaire survey investigating construction projects in China, Ref. [75] indicated that supply chain management in construction will lead to the development of long-term partnerships with suppliers and partners, thus leading to partnerships that facilitate innovation and improve environmental practice. This has been testified by Ref. [11] through a review of the motivations for CSR implementation in construction companies, which also concluded that a single-source multiple-product supplier, in turn, can contribute to a reduction in traffic congestion and bound noise. Ref. [106] explored key enablers in sustainable construction supply chains and their ability to decrease uncertainties and disruption risks.

On the contrary, several studies revealed a negative relationship between critical indicators and performance outcomes. For instance, according to one case study [84], the discrepancy of consciousness in community involvement may cause divergences between the government, local community, and contractors, which might be a hidden trigger for social chaos. Additionally, community consultation was identified as a barrier to construction efficiency, owing to its feature of being time-consuming and costly. Moreover, it can be seen from Table 7 that risk reduction is positioned in first place in the performance dimension. Thus, it can be considered the most effective goal achieved by corporate social responsibility practices. Meanwhile, customer satisfaction and efficient construction seem to receive a lower contribution from CSR implementation. Future research should focus more on these two dimensions when adopting CSR practices.

6. Views from Industry

Incorporating feedback from real-world practitioners and managers when identifying the most influential indicators is essential for ensuring the practical relevance and applicability of the research findings. Furthermore, the views from industry experts are instrumental in validating and refining indicators, because their feedback helps to bridge the gap between academic research and industry practice, ensuring that the indicators selected are grounded in the lived experiences of those who navigate CSR challenges daily. A post-survey interview was adopted to receive real-world feedback and validate the findings. This method has been used commonly in construction and engineering management research to validate research findings [138]. The interviews were conducted with experts with at least 20 years of experience in the construction industry to validate and gain a better understanding of the findings in Section 4.3. Afterward, eight experienced managers in the construction sector participated in semi-structured interviews, using a five-point Likert scale of level of impact (1 = not impactful at all, 5 = very impactful). The duration of each interview was between 30 and 60 min. Interviews were conducted both face-to-face and online. The characteristics of the eight managers and the results are shown in

Table 8. Profile of respondents in post-survey interviews.

Category	Description	Frequency
Gender	Male	8
	Female	0
Management hierarchy	Senior Manager	4
	Department Manager	2
	Project Manager	2
Working Experience	>25 years	2
	20–25 years	6
Company Type	Housing construction	2
	Transport project	1
	Municipal engineering	5

and

Table 9. Summary of interview results for identifying influential indicators on CSR performance in the construction sector.

Critical Indicator	Outcome		Indicators’ Impact Assessment Given by 8 Experts (E1, E2, …, E8)
Code	Score	Rank	E1	E2	E2	E2	E5	E6	E7	E8
EW1	4.25	First Tier	5	4	5	5	4	3	4	4
CP1	4.25		4	5	4	4	4	4	4	5
ES1	4.00		4	4	4	5	4	4	3	4
ES2	4.00		4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
CP3	3.875	Second Tier	4	4	4	4	4	3	4	4
SE3	3.875		5	4	4	3	4	3	4	4
SE1	3.75		4	4	4	3	4	3	4	4
PM1	3.75		4	4	4	4	4	4	2	4
EW2	3.625		4	3	3	4	4	4	3	4
SC1	2.875	Third Tier	4	3	3	3	3	2	2	3
PM3	2.875		3	3	3	3	4	3	2	2
EW3	2.5		3	3	2	2	2	2	3	3
SE2	2.5		4	4	2	2	2	2	2	2
SC2	2.5		4	4	3	2	2	1	2	2
PM2	2.5		4	3	3	3	3	1	1	2
PM4	2.00		3	3	2	2	2	1	1	2
CP2	1.875		3	3	2	2	2	1	1	1
CE1	1.875		2	2	2	2	2	1	2	2

, respectively.

As shown in Table 9, the indicators affecting CSR performance are segmented into three tiers. Indicators included in each tier are consistent with the results obtained through the previous linkage framework. However, several indicators are unexpectedly surprising and contrary to the results.

Firstly, it is surprising to observe a stark disconnect between academia and industry regarding the importance of occupational health and safety (EW1). From the perspective of industry managers, employee health and safety are pivotal to operational efficiency, employee morale, and regulatory compliance. Businesses prioritize this area because workplace incidents can lead to costly legal repercussions, reduced productivity, and reputational damage. Moreover, safeguarding employees’ well-being is integral to fostering loyalty and maintaining a sustainable workforce. Conversely, academia’s relative neglect of this may stem from its theoretical focus and limited practical engagement. Scholars often prioritize stakeholders or corporate dimensions of CSR, relegating employee health and safety to being a secondary concern. Additionally, the challenge of accessing detailed personal health data can further deter research in this field.

Additionally, there are clearly different views on stakeholder management (SE2). Academia generally believes that stakeholder management is the core of CSR, which can promote the long-term development of enterprises, enhance social legitimacy, and promote innovation [110,112]. However, the industry believes it is a secondary issue and focuses more on short-term financial results and shareholder returns. Scholars believe that benign stakeholder relations can enhance the reputation and market competitiveness of enterprises, and theoretical research also shows that stakeholder management helps to improve the social capital and long-term stability of enterprises. However, the industry is often under pressure to pursue short-term economic benefits, and stakeholder management is considered complex and resource-consuming, so it is often not taken seriously. Bridging this gap may require academia to provide a more operational framework to help the industry recognize the actual value of stakeholder management.

Lastly, the significance of government regulation and support (SE3) in CSR is perceived differently. The academic community may generally pay more attention to CSR practices and internal motivations while ignoring the regulatory and supervisory role played by the government. On the other hand, the industry believes that government regulation and support are crucial because they directly affect the compliance, operating costs, and market competitiveness of enterprises. This discrepancy may be due to the scholar’s focus on theoretical models, ignoring the specific impact of government policies on corporate decision-making, while industry often faces the actual pressure of government regulation.

Consequently, bridging this gap is essential for fostering a comprehensive understanding of CSR. Collaborative efforts between academia and industry can help align research priorities with practical realities, ensuring a more efficient performance in CSR practices.

7. Future Research Trends in CSR Implementation in Construction

This review study presents four suggested future research directions, as shown in Figure 7. Notably, the existing research topics in Figure 6 have inter-connection and are not isolated, according to the keywords analysis. For instance, sustainable development should operate under the supervision of laws and regulations; relevant theories and approaches can be integrated into stakeholder management; and community engagement should be in line with the concept of sustainability and the interests of diverse stakeholders. Several directions in the future study of critical indicators and performance dimensions of CSR implementation in the construction domain can be foreseen, including the following:

• Establishing a framework for efficient renewable resources investment is recommended in the future for its economic benefits, biodiversity preservation, and climate-friendly.
• In terms of legality and ethics, future research should pay attention to developing a comparative assessment model for anti-corruption, and legal compliance in construction across different countries.
• Researchers can adopt an interdisciplinary approach or theoretical model to address CSR strategy enhancement for more complex construction projects and make comparisons of CSR approaches and theories across different regions or cultural contexts.
• As digital transformation has gained momentum, future research should propose a dynamic digital platform for stakeholder engagement, and integrate blockchain in supply chain management considering its transparency.

8. Implications and Limitations

This state-of-the-art review offers valuable insights for both academia and industry by elucidating the linkage between critical indicators and CSR performance in the construction sector. Through scientometric analysis, researchers can conduct comparative studies on CSR implementation in key contributing countries, including China, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The keyword analysis reveals a shift in research focus from a stakeholder perspective toward sustainability and high-technology approaches, highlighting emerging trends and priority areas for future research. Notably, the systematic discussion identifies a research gap concerning the impact of community engagement and social contribution on CSR performance, as these aspects remain underexplored in the existing literature. Addressing these gaps in future studies could significantly enhance the understanding of CSR effectiveness. Moreover, the cognitive discrepancies identified through post-survey interviews underscore the need for further investigation into the alignment between academic and industry perspectives, fostering a more integrated and comprehensive approach to CSR research.

From the perspective of industry practitioners and policymakers, this study identifies several critical indicators, such as fair and ethical operations, that are essential for the effective implementation of CSR practices. The proposed framework provides construction enterprises with a structured approach to strategically manage and implement CSR initiatives, enhancing their overall effectiveness. Furthermore, by considering the differing perspectives of academia and industry, policymakers can formulate more nuanced and practical policies that align with both corporate and societal needs. Integrating these insights enables governments to establish supportive legal and regulatory frameworks that facilitate CSR adoption and contribute to sustainable development in the construction sector.

This review study also has some deficiencies that need to be indicated and addressed. Firstly, the 77 sample articles were only retrieved from the Scopus database; future research should include other databases, such as Web of Science. Secondly, the research period was limited from 2004 to 2024 (July) and the document type was restricted to articles only; thus, some literature (i.e., conference papers) and the latest articles were not considered. Therefore, future research should expand the scope of the literature search to obtain more documents. To further prove the correlation between critical indicators and the performance of CSR implementation in construction, future research can focus on case studies and empirical analysis.

9. Conclusions

Building on the growing emphasis on corporate social responsibility (CSR) within the construction sector, this review aimed to identify critical indicators and performance dimensions in CSR implementation while examining their interrelationships. Employing a combined science mapping approach and systematic literature review, a total of 77 relevant articles were retrieved from the Scopus database following the PRISMA methodology. The findings indicated a steady growth in research output within this domain from 2004 to July 2024. The most frequently occurring keywords included sustainability, sustainability reporting, disclosure, and project management. The Journal of Cleaner Production and Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management were identified as the leading journals contributing to this field. A country/regional analysis revealed that China has the highest number of publications and the most recent average publication year, while Australia and the United Kingdom lead in total citations and link strength, respectively. The document analysis further identified Ref. [38] as the most influential article, based on normalized citation counts, while Ref. [59] emerged as the most frequently cited study in this research area.

Through a systematic literature review, this study identified seven critical CSR indicators, eight performance dimensions, and key research trends. Based on these findings, a conceptual framework was developed to elucidate the relationships between critical indicators and performance outcomes. To validate and refine the framework, a post-survey interview method was employed, highlighting cognitive gaps between academic perspectives and industry practices regarding several key indicators. Additionally, four future research directions were proposed, focusing on renewability, assessment methods, innovative approaches, and digitalization. To address existing limitations, future studies could expand their databases by incorporating sources such as the Web of Science and broadening the literature sample to include conference papers and recently published articles related to critical indicators and CSR performance outcomes in the construction sector.