Sustainable construction and artificial intelligence: the role of agile project management in construction project resilience in Pakistan

This research analyzes sustainable construction practices and technology adoption, and their relationships with the adoption of Agile Project Management and the resilience of construction projects. Agile Project Management is incorporated in the model as a bridge. Employing DCT as the major research foundation, this study assesses the role of integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and sustainable construction practices with project resilience through Agile Project Management. The Technology-Organization-Environment framework provides context to the integration of AI and construction in Pakistan. The CAS theory provides a wider framework to think about the system. The T-O-E framework and the CAS theory are integrated and do not require empirical evidence. Agile Project Management combines sustainability and construction practices with Artificial Intelligence to facilitate achievement of project resilience. Findings demonstrate that both the integration of AI with construction practices and project resilience are positively influenced by sustainable construction practices. Of all the relationships evaluated, AI integration with construction practices showed the highest positive influence on project resilience. It is important to exercise caution when interpreting this relationship, as all the relationships were assessed in a single, cross-sectional survey, therefore, it could be attributed to common method biases. The T-O-E framework addresses the integration of AI with construction in Pakistan, while the CAS theory is integrated and does not require empirical evidence. A Construct validity approach was used to assess professionals and students of Construction and related disciplines in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Of the 300 questionnaires distributed, 244 completed responses were received. PLS-SEM analysis was performed on 188 questionnaires, from which 56 were rejected due to failure to meet quality standards. The analysis was conducted using an adapted form of multi-item scales of 5-point Likert scale, to assess sustainable construction, artificial intelligence, and agile project management. Data were analyzed through the framework of PLS-SEM. Results showed that integration of Artificial Intelligence in project management enhanced project resilience. The effect of agile project management on project resilience also was positive. Further, the effect of sustainable construction on project resilience also was positive. Additionally, the effects of integration of Artificial Intelligence and sustainable construction combined positively influenced project resilience. This research extends Dynamic Capabilities Theory, by incorporating AI and construction methods focused on sustainability in the field of agile project management and project resilience.