Investigating the Driving Mechanism of Megaproject Social Responsibility Behavior: A System Dynamics Approach

Although megaproject social responsibility (MSR) behavior has gained increasing attention from both academia and industry, it is still unclear how MSR behavior evolves over time. Utilizing system dynamics (SD) method, this study aims to investigate the driving mechanism behind MSR behavior from the perspective of a system evolution cycle. First, drawing on the motivation-opportunity-ability framework, the drivers of MSR behavior were inductively summarized through literature review and semi-structured interviews. Second, a causal loop diagram was employed to analyze the relationships between the drivers, leading to the development of a quantitative model. The valid empirical data from 162 respondents was collected to initialize parameters. Finally, system simulation was conducted using Vensim PLE. The findings reveals that the model effectively portrays the evolution of MSR behavior. The level of MSR behavior exhibits an overall growing trend, with the growth rate following an inverted U-shaped pattern over time. The simulation analysis underscores the pivotal roles of social responsibility culture, regulatory pressure and resource support. This study contributes to the body of the knowledge on megaproject management by offering a dynamic perspective on MSR behavior. The established SD model can be served as a practical tool and helps practitioners develop effective strategies for MSR governance.