Application of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the Management of Housing Projects in Nigeria: Methodological Perspective

Nigeria’s housing projects have continued to under-perform despite countless input on the path of both the public and private sectors which makes the housing situation a far cry from expectations. Leffat (2012) posited that under-performance in project activities exist within various phases of a housing project life cycle which make up the duration of a housing project. The life cycle phases of a housing project include: initiation, planning; design; execution and commissioning phase (Leffat, 2012). Ibem and Aduwo (2015); Joboye (2009) opined that challenges have continually marred the Nigeria housing project setting which has affected project delivery adversely to include the economy as a whole. Housing projects can deliver the expected levels of success if the challenges which abound in the different phases of a project life cycle are mitigated (Leffat, 2012). Ketut and Dwijendra (2013) noted that housing project challenges vary in nature which makes it quite daunting to address. The inability to promptly address challenges in a housing project can have a resulting and adverse effect on another aspect of the project hence the need to act early enough. The varying nature of African housing project challenges signifies the need for the best possible manpower, techniques and approaches to be used to guarantee project success (Muriithi & Crawford, 2003). Project success in the opinion of Prabjheet (2011) entails that the responsibilities in every phase of a housing project life cycle is executed to ensure the satisfaction of clients and project stakeholders. This can only be achieved by ensuring that every existing challenge is addressed promptly and properly. Abstract: Mindful of the importance of a smooth housing project process especially towards economic sustainability, challenges have continued to undermine project performance. Housing project challenges which exist in each phase of a project life cycle border on the inability of project stakeholders to deliver the required and stipulated project expectations. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) which ensures that firms’ act responsibly in service delivery has been applied in a multitude of ways by several researchers in the construction industry as well as housing projects, especially in developed nations. The need for the application of CSR in the management of housing projects by construction firms is vital as it presents potentials as a panacea to housing project challenges. However, CSR application in the management of housing projects as a panacea to housing project life cycle challenges remains unstudied which creates a gap that informed this study. Furthermore, relevant questions on its adoption and implementation in Nigerian housing projects can be best answered when an appropriate research methodology is used. The research methodology adopted for a doctoral research aimed at applying CSR in housing project management along project life cycle phases as a panacea to housing project challenges, is presented in this paper. This study adopted the research onion research design. This paper also outlines the research philosophy; approach; strategy; methods and choices. The reasons for the choices are justified as guided by the research onion. Also the research questions as well as relevant methodology literature were considered in the design. A major contribution of this paper is towards enumerating justifications for the adoption of research methods to address research questions.