What Drives Megaproject Social Responsibility Behavior? A Qualitative Study in China

Megaprojects’ global expansion yields profound socio-economic and environmental effects, highlighting the significance of megaproject social responsibility (MSR). Stakeholders of megaprojects must possess a thorough understanding of what drives MSR behavior to formulate impactful governance strategies. Despite research advances in understanding MSR behavior triggers, the field lacks a holistic and systematic perspective, failing to adequately explain the driving mechanism behind behavior. This study conducted a qualitative analysis based on the motivation–opportunity–ability (MOA) framework to explore current practices and identify the drivers of MSR behavior. By gathering interview data from 10 megaproject experts and textual materials of three prominent megaprojects, we identified fifteen first-order concepts within seven second-order themes under the MOA framework and provided a more comprehensive and nuanced view of the drivers of MSR behavior. This study introduces a novel theoretical perspective and analytical framework, enhancing comprehension and interpretation of MSR behavior and enriching the theoretical underpinning of social responsibility management in megaprojects.