RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION ORIENTATION AND SUSTAINABLE PROJECT PERFORMANCE OF CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

For some decades, the problem with responsible innovation orientation lies in the unintended consequences impose on sustainable project performance with its measures such as economic and social performance, hitherto carelessly weakens project performance when applied without balance. Hence this paper looked at responsible innovation orientation and sustainable project performance of road construction firms in Rivers State. The main objective was to determine the relationship between dimensions of responsible innovation orientation (anticipatory and reflexive orientation) and measures of sustainable project performance (economic and social performance). Four research questions and hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted cross sectional survey research design due to the numbers of the road construction firms involves. The target population was 105 respondents derived from 15 road construction firms in Rivers State. The sample size was 105 respondents through census and purposive technique. The data were generated through the use of structured questionnaire and 100 copies of questionnaire retrieved. Structural equations model was used to analyze the data. Findings from the study revealed that anticipatory orientation has a very strong significant correlation with measures of sustainable project performance (economic performance – β =0.763, and social performance β= 0.770 Also, the findings from the study revealed that reflexive orientation has a strong significant correlation with measures of sustainable project performance (economic performance – β =  0.720 and social performance  β = 0.725. Therefore, the study concluded that dimensions of responsible innovation orientation (anticipatory orientation and reflexive orientation) influence the measures of sustainable project performance (economic performance and social performance. Hereafter this paper recommended that firms should invest in market intelligence, scenario planning, and forecasting tools to anticipate business trends, regulatory changes, and client needs that permit proactive tactic in enhances competitiveness and success.