Circular design strategies and economic sustainability of construction projects in china: the mediating role of organizational culture

This research aims to elucidate the relationship between circular design strategies (CDS) and the economic sustainability of construction projects (ESCP), examining the mediating role of organizational culture (OC). Motivated by the imperative to develop a sustainable circular economy (CE) model in the building industry, our study focuses on a crucial dimension of CE processes. Specifically, we investigate how construction firms’ organizational values shape their pursuit of desired economic outcomes within CE theory. Through a comprehensive analysis of 359 responses from a cross-sectional survey of Chinese construction firms employing Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), our findings reveal a positive albeit weakly impactful association between CDS and ESCP. Simultaneously, OC is identified as a factor detrimental to ESCP. Notably, this study unveils the influential roles of hierarchical culture (HC) and group culture (GC) in shaping the current state of ESCP in China. Emphasizing the significance of CDS, we propose that contract administrators proactively reposition their organizations to adopt strategies conducive to achieving the necessary economic output for construction projects. The originality aspect lies in this research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by offering empirical insights into the theoretical framework, marking the first such empirical study in northern China. We conclude by critically examining research outcomes and limitations while providing insightful recommendations for future research to foster sustainable construction practices in the Chinese context.

The dimensions of organizational culture in China reflect a blend of traditional values and modern influences 4,7,25 .Collectivism, harmony, and a strong sense of social hierarchy are prominent cultural dimensions, aligning with Confucian principles [17][18][19] .The influence of these dimensions can be observed in workplace dynamics, decision-making processes, and the emphasis on group cohesion over individual achievement.
Measuring organizational culture in China requires culturally sensitive instruments.The Hofstede Cultural Dimensions Model, with dimensions such as power distance, individualism-collectivism, and uncertainty avoidance, has been adapted to assess organizational culture in the Chinese context 20,21 .Additionally, instruments like the Chinese Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (COCAI) have been developed to capture the unique aspects of organizational culture in Chinese enterprises 15,16,19 .
Organizational culture significantly influences employee behaviour in Chinese organizations.The emphasis on harmony and group cohesion fosters a collaborative and team-oriented work environment 3,15,21 .Leadership is crucial, with leaders often embodying Confucian values of benevolence and moral integrity 9 .This cultural backdrop influences Chinese organizations' communication styles, decision-making processes, and conflictresolution approaches.That's the justification for this research selected this aspect to shed light on the mediating role among circular design strategies and economic sustainability of construction projects.
The relationship between organizational culture and performance in China is complex.The emphasis on collective goals can enhance teamwork and employee engagement, positively impacting organizational outcomes 3,17,18,21 .However, challenges arise when traditional cultural values clash with the demands of a rapidly evolving business landscape, requiring organizations to navigate a delicate balance between tradition and modernity 7,31 .
Their unique cultural context influences innovation within Chinese organizations.While traditional values may emphasize stability and conformity, there is a growing recognition of the need for innovative thinking [32][33][34][35][36] .Companies in China are increasingly adopting a more flexible and open organizational culture to encourage creativity and adaptability [33][34][35] .
Navigating change within Chinese organizations requires understanding the cultural dynamics at play.The cultural preference for stability and respect for authority may challenge rapid organizational transformation 34 .Successful change initiatives often involve aligning corporate culture with innovation and global competitiveness goals, requiring leaders to manage cultural shifts 7,31,34 .
Generally, every existing organization has its distinct cultural characteristics.In this context, culture refers to how groups, including companies, interact internally and externally.As a result, the cultural coherence of a specific organization is determined by the sufficiency of the group's artistic mission, strategies, and processes 37 .These cultural techniques are referred to as "macro dimensions, " which are characterized by the dynamic nature of organizations, in which numerous forces interact and impact one another and are thus sensitive to changes that may alter the structure of the organization 37 .
To effectively empirically analyze the effects of OC in line with the stated objectives, this study adopts the Competing Values Framework (CVF) model advanced by Quinn and his co-researchers in the eighties [38][39][40][41] .The CVF is the most recurrently engaged tool in theoretical and experimental studies relating OC to organizational performance 19 and, hence, the most suitable to address CE-related activities.The CVF reveals the multifaceted compositions of OC specifically relating to submission, drive, management, choices and efficacy in an organization 15 .
Additionally, in light of variables that affect Circular Design Strategies (CDS) and Economic Sustainability of Construction Projects in China in the literature review, consider including variables like technological innovation, government regulations, market demand for green building, and supply chain practices.These factors significantly impact the adoption and effectiveness of CDS in contributing to economic sustainability.
In terms of justification for selecting organizational culture as a research variable, it fundamentally shapes how strategies are interpreted, implemented, and integrated within a company's operations 19,38,41 .The Competing Values Framework (CVF) provides a multidimensional model to assess organizational culture, making it a robust tool for understanding the cultural underpinnings that influence CDS adoption 39 .Organizational culture affects every aspect of CDS implementation, from decision-making processes to employee engagement and resource allocation.This focus is particularly relevant in the Chinese construction industry, where rapid development and unique cultural factors necessitate a deep understanding of how organizational culture can facilitate or hinder the transition to more sustainable and economically viable construction practices.

Circular design strategies
With the building industry consuming a significant quantity of finite resources, it is critical to use an appropriate structural strategy from the start (design), paying attention to the circularity and reusability of the different materials and components within it.Furthermore, it is critical to concentrate on the packaging that these components are wrapped in; this circularity-by-design approach is essential to creating a zero-waste circular economy in both production and consumption.If the construction industry is an example of how crucial steps of circularity can be achieved through design, then it is critical to plan for reuse and recovery 42,43 .This refers to determining if an existing structure could be entirely or partially reused and incorporated into the new design.Materials, components, packaging, and other items that can be reused, remanufactured, returned, or repurposed would be included in the design 44 .Design for flexibility and deconstruction is a vital feature here, with the goal of creating a process and a structured system that decreases the life of waste while simultaneously designing a model for reuse and repurposing.The flexibility option in design is a significant tool for promoting the adoption of a CE system in various businesses and sectors 45 .On the one hand, the sustainability and Circular Economy (CE) paradigms 46  www.nature.com/scientificreports/have been forced to change their business strategies to pursue this transformation 47 by detecting and avoiding associated 48 and exploring potential advantages 43 .

Economic sustainability of construction projects
Practices supporting long-term economic growth without negatively harming the community's social, environmental, or cultural components are called "Economic Sustainability (ES)" 49 .Financial aspects in construction refer to all costs and benefits associated with construction-related functions, from the initial capital investment to operating gains and final return proceeds 23,50 .Clients and owners naturally prioritize these issues, especially when breakthroughs or technology are introduced into the sector.Apart from that, how CE adoption leads to ES, which reduces building lifespan maintenance costs, is also demonstrated 51 .They stated that ES is guaranteed when circular design techniques are used, as they promise profitability without compromising people's demands.Standardization of circular design and construction approaches reduces costs by minimizing repeats while saving on long-term operational costs due to fewer repairs and replacements 52 .They also discovered that ES is reached due to the ease with which materials may be retrieved, lowering material End-of-Life (EoL) costs.ES is thought to be attained when a client receives a good return on their investment by using CE processes and maintaining the quality of the end goods using modular building approaches that reduce waste and increase productivity.
Another point of view is that the local economy is bolstered by the development of jobs in recycling and repair procedures, assuring the economy's long-term viability 53 .Overall, the client's economy improves due to the lower cost of acquiring new materials, a more sophisticated and consistent product quality and reliable performance achieved through repetitive design and production of modular components 54 .

Circular design strategies and organisational culture
As more businesses employ design thinking techniques to address organizational problems, the need to establish corporate cultures that support the effective use of these tools may become more significant 55 .At the same time, past research has shown that cultural changes usually happen in stages due to organizational life cycle elements, demographic shifts, and members' exposure to broader societal or professional culture shifts 56 .When rapid changes in corporate values and assumptions are required (for example, in the case of firms adopting circular design strategies), the role of organizational leaders, supported by company-wide initiatives (for example, training, coaching, and role modelling), may be critical in overcoming corporate culture's natural inertia 57 .Construction companies must build a culture that nurtures creativity and promotes innovation to succeed and "remain externally flexible." Ismail 58 claims that "innovation will be fostered when culture and way of thinking mix to create new ideas" 59 .Employees will be motivated to take an active role in decision-making and share their innovative ideas with management to improve organizational performance if the company has a strong culture 60 .As such, the following hypotheses were formulated to examine the extent of the relationship between the independent variable (circular design strategies) and the mediating variable (the CVF of group, developmental, rational, and hierarchical cultures).For this section, four hypotheses were developed for the relationship between the IV and each of the dimensions of the MV.The hypotheses were grown, therefore, to assess the relationship based on the proposed research framework shown (Fig. 1).

Circular design strategies and economic sustainability
Sustainable and flexible ideas are crucial characteristics of a good building design 57 ; architects are expected to design robust and long-lasting structures; otherwise, they are fundamentally untenable.The idea is to encourage architects to consider designs for reducing waste generation, as considering waste minimization measures before generating waste is less expensive.For instance, modular construction and design can reduce waste generation on construction sites because fabrication is carried out at factories where production is controllable, thereby improving the economic sustainability of construction 36 .Additionally, empirical evidence that aids in evaluating sustainable methods will tremendously assist clients and can pave the way for future sustainable products 61 .Hence, the following hypothesis was formulated to examine the extent of the relationship between the independent variable (circular design strategies) and the dependent variable (the Economic sustainability of construction projects).The hypothesis was developed, therefore, to assess the relationship based on the proposed research framework shown (Fig. 1).

H5: Circular Design Strategies have a significant positive effect on Economic sustainability.
Organisational culture and economic sustainability According to Isensee et al 62 ., firms that do well in sustainability have a distinct organizational culture.Construction firms are also part of the business sector, and focusing on sustainability can help them compete more effectively.Offering sustainable products and services allows segmentation and customization to satisfy specific needs 63 .There appears to be no single approach to explain how innovations will develop or how culture can be maintained in a building industry with such a diversified and multileveled nature.To be competitive, businesses must continuously develop fresh ideas to improve operations and become more inventive.This is critical for industries like construction as they migrate to more sustainable practices 64 .Consequently, the following hypotheses were formulated to examine the extent of the relationship between the four dimensions of the MV (group, development, rational and hierarchical cultures) and the DV (ES of construction projects).For this section, four hypotheses were developed for the relationship between the dimensions of the MV (CVF of OC) and the DV (ES of construction projects).The hypotheses were grown, therefore, to assess the relationship based on the proposed research framework shown (Fig. 1).

H9: Hierarchical Culture has a significant favourable influence on Economic Sustainability
The mediating role of OC between CDS and ES Based on those mentioned earlier, the following hypotheses were also formulated to examine the mediating effect of the four dimensions of the MV (group, development, rational and hierarchical cultures) between the IV (CDS) and the DV (ES of construction projects) in line with RQ4.For this section, four hypotheses were developed to assess the mediating relationship based on the proposed research framework shown (Fig. 1).

Theoretical background
The circular economy idea underpins this research.The CE was first introduced in the 1970s by the Swiss architect and economist Walter Stahel, who recommended that materials be managed in a 'closed loop' , thereby turning waste into resources.Stahel defined this as a 'Cradle-to-Cradle' system and the Linear model as Cradle-to-Grave 65 .The need to stretch out product life through restoration and remanufacture was also emphasized [66][67][68][69] .Consequently, the Cradle to Cradle method was designed by William McDonough (architect) and Michael Braungart (environmental chemist), who stated that it would facilitate 'design for abundance' 70 as a result of which they developed the Cradle-2-Cradle (C2C) benchmark to approve and endorse products that justify such standards 44 .CE has evolved and continues to gain traction 71 .The mutual instituting ideologies are based on more outstanding resource organization and waste minimization [71][72][73]

Research framework
The current study is unique in that it examines the link between CDS and ESCP mediated by the competing values framework of OC governed by the Circular Economy theory.Figure 1 illustrates the hypothetical research framework proposed for the study.

Methodology
Statement: This study confirms that all methods were carried out per relevant guidelines and regulations.Wuhan University's institutional and licensing committee approved all experimental protocols.Informed consent was obtained from all subjects and legal guardian(s).

Survey and data collection
For this study, the Positivist approach and Quantitative techniques were adopted as philosophy and design, respectively, to ascertain the mediating effects of OC on the relationship between CDS and ESCP in the Chinese construction industry.This is to effectively analyze the causal relations and demonstrate the level of direct and indirect relationships among all variables.Given the study's predefined philosophy and design, a survey technique was used to satisfy the stated goals.As a result of the background and scope provided, the target population for this study was all contracting and consulting firms in the study area.Only northern China was considered for this study, and the reasons were not far-fetched.So far, the southern region of China has hosted many studies on CE implementation and processes 7,[31][32][33][34] , leaving no clear indices on the subject matter for the northern part.
The north area currently consists of three geopolitical zones: North-west, North-Central and North-East.Two provinces from each zone will be picked for the study for appropriate spread, with Shanxi and Qinghai Province representing the North-west, the Inner Mongolia and Hebei provinces representing the North-central zone and Heilongjiang and Jilin Province representing the North-east.These provinces were carefully chosen since they represent areas with a high tendency for construction-related activities.
The total research population is 1535 obtained from https:// libgu ides.libra ry.cityu.edu.hk/ busCh ina/ compdir (an online directory of registered firms in China, December 2023 version) because of a dearth of data on available construction entities in the industry.However, the population for the selected province was found to be 778.This was rounded to 800 to attain a research sample 260 based on the Shanxi and Qinghai Province 1970 rule of thumb 74 .The study adopted the proportionate stratified random sampling technique for its suitability in ensuring adequate representation of respondent elements 75 .The data was collected for six months, from June 2019 until November 2023.E-mails and WeChat messages attached with an online link for Google Forms were sent to respondents to complete.Follow-up calls and gentle reminders were sent to research assistants via phone for quick responses and full cooperation.The questionnaires were accompanied by cover letters that included a brief description of the research and assurance of anonymity and confidentiality.In total, 550 survey questionnaires were distributed to Construction Contracting and Consulting Companies in Northern China, of which 390 were returned.Out of the returned questionnaires, 359 were used for data analysis.Data were obtained from Principal partners, Partners, Management staff, Project Managers and Regular staff of these organizations through the survey instruments.Table 1 highlights the statistics of questionnaires distributed, including return and response rates.

Measurements
The measurement for Design Strategies (9 items), Competing values framework of organizational culture (22  items) and Economic sustainability of construction projects (10 items) were adopted from the sources highlighted in Table 2.A 5-point Likert scale was employed for the use of this study.The Likert scale for Design strategies adopted ranged from "very low", denoted by 1, to "very high", represented by 5.The Likert scale for www.nature.com/scientificreports/Organizational culture ranged from "strongly disagree", characterized by 1, to "strongly agree", denoted by 5.The Likert scale for Economic sustainability indicators ranged from "very low", indicated by 1, to "very high", marked by.Additionally, the respondents were provided with descriptions for every construct, with precise directions on completing the assessment of the items to prevent any confusion.Table 2 demonstrates the constructs and variables used in this study.

Demographic profile
The demographic profile shows that respondents possessed adequate experience, education, and the correct position to respond to this study.Project managers accounted for 30% of the respondents, with the remaining percentage taken by Administrative staff (26%), Partners (10%), Principal staff (8%) and Project support staff (27%).Regarding professional background, Architects, Quantity Surveyors and Builders they have accounted for 85% of the respondents.About 62% of the respondent organizations (Contracting = 57%, Consulting = 43%) have operated for years ranging between 15 years and above.Regarding educational background, 60% of respondents possess a minimum master's degree, and 38% have a bachelor's degree.86% of responding firms engage in Building projects, while 14% engage in Engineering projects.
In total, 550 survey questionnaires were distributed to Construction Contracting and Consulting Companies in Northern China, of which 390 were returned.For the returned questionnaires, 359 were deemed usable after being filtered for errors, incompleteness, or missing data, thus giving a response rate of 65%.Thirteen hypotheses were formulated and tested in this study.Data were obtained from Principal partners, Partners, Management staff, Project Managers and Regular staff of these organizations through survey questionnaires.

Data analysis
The PLS-SEM technique using SmartPLS 3.3.3 78software was selected to examine the research model.PLS can handle complex structural equation models with many constructs and non-normal data distribution.Hence, this approach was used 79 .Table 3 portrays Mardia's multivariate skewness (_β = 7.612, p < 0.01) and kurtosis (β = 54.349,p < 0.01).If the b value for multivariate skewness is more significant than ± 3 and the b value for multivariate kurtosis is more critical than ± 20, then the data distribution is not normal 80 .As a result, PLS-SEM was used as recommended by 81 .

Common method variance
Because self-report questionnaires gathered the data for this study, there is a risk of statistical and methodological biases developing because the data came from a single source and had similar scale qualities 82 .A comprehensive collinearity test is one of the methods used to detect this issue.If two or more variables measure the same attribute of an object or construct, they are said to be collinear 83 .To calculate the Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) values, linear regression analysis was used in SPSS Statistic 23 software with a random variable as the dependent variable and other latent variables as independent variables.The value of 3.3 was chosen 83 as the cut-off point for the VIF readings.CMV was not an issue and is unlikely to produce any problems for the current research findings because the VIF values (refer to Table 4) are below the threshold values.

Measurement model
The measurement model for this study was examined by checking the convergent and discriminant validity of the research data.The degree to which a measure correlates positively with other measures of the same construct is known as concurrent validity.The loadings, average variance extracted (AVE), and composite reliability (CR) were used to measure validity and reliability.The loadings of all the items must be more than 0.5, the average www.nature.com/scientificreports/variance extracted (AVE) should be a minimum of 0.5, while the composite reliability (CR) needs to be above 0.7 for convergent validity to be attained 84,85 .As shown in Table 5, all the AVE were more significant than 0.5, and the CR were greater than 0.7.However, some loadings were lower than 0.7.The measurement was shown to have convergent validity and reliability because the AVE and CR met the specified cut-off values 86 .Next, discriminant validity was assessed by looking at the HTMT ratios.By empirical standards, discriminant validity refers to how distinct a construct is from others.If the ratios are less than HTMT 0.85 , it may be concluded that all measures are discriminant 87 .Also, if the upper limit of the HTMT bootstrapping value does not contain a 1, then the measurements are discriminant 88 .As shown in Table 6, all the ratios are below a cut-off value of 0.85; as such, the measures are distinct.

Structural model
The structural model explains the hypothesized relationship between the constructs.To check the significance level, t-statistics for all paths were evaluated using a complete bootstrapping procedure with 5000 samples, a significance level of 5 percent, and a one-tailed test 86 .The findings for direct relationships are summarized in In addition, based on the critique of 89 that p-values are not a good criterion for assessing the significance of hypotheses, we employed a combination of parameters such as p-values, confidence intervals, and effect sizes.Table 7 shows the summary of the parameters we have used to test the hypotheses developed.R 2 was analyzed to examine the amount of variance in the endogenous constructs explained by exogenous constructs 81 .The effect range is from 0 to 1, which assumes that the higher the value, the higher the predictive accuracy level 86 .This research used the rule of thumb developed, where 0.26 means substantial predictive accuracy, 0.13 means moderate predictive accuracy, and 0.02 means weak predictive accuracy.The R 2 values for GC, DC, RC, HC and ESCP are 0.127 (moderate), 0.406 (substantial), 0.072 (weak), 0.100 (weak) and 0.116 (weak), respectively (Refer to Fig. 2).Thus, the highest predictive accuracy of 41% of CDS can be explained by DC.To measure the effect size (f 2 ), the value of 0.02 is small, 0.15 is medium, and 0.35 is large 87 .As observed in Table, DC has no effect on ESCP(f 2 = 0.001), CDS has a negligible impact on ESCP (f 2 = 0.036), CDS has a little effect on RC(f 2 = 0.078) and HC(f 2 = 0.111), HC has a negligible impact on ESCP (f 2 = 0.027), CDS has a medium effect on GC(f 2 = 0.146), RC has no impact on ESCP(f 2 = 0.005), GC has no effect on ESCP(f 2 = 0.007), and CDS is having a significant impact on DC (f 2 = 0.683).The results above indicate that hypotheses H1, H2, H3, H5 and H6 are supported based on the parameters above.Based on the same criteria, H7 and H8 are not supported.The results also show that despite not having a value of 0 between the Confidence Intervals Bias adjusted at the Upper and Lower Limits 90 , hypotheses H4 and H9 are not supported due to negative beta values.As a result, all the hypotheses for direct relationships are supported except H4, H7, H8 and H9.

Mediation analysis
To test the mediation hypotheses, this study followed the suggestions 81,91 by bootstrapping the indirect effect.It can be concluded that there is significant mediation if the confidence interval does not straddle a 0. As shown in Table 8, CDS → GC → ESCP (β = 0.041, t = 1.713) and CDS → HC → ESCP (β = 0.053, t = 2.609) are significant, while CDS → DC → ESCP (β = − 0.040, t = 0.660) and CDS → RC → ESCP (β = − 0.026,t = 0.821) are not significant.Furthermore, the confidence intervals bias corrected 95% also showed intervals straddling a 0 for H11 and H12.Thus, H10 and H13 are supported, while H11 and H12 are not.

Predictive relevance Q 2
This measure is an indicator of the model's predictive power or predictive relevance.When a PLS path model is predictively relevant, it can accurately forecast data not included in the model estimation.In the structural model, www.nature.com/scientificreports/Q 2 values larger than zero for a specific reflective endogenous latent variable indicate the path model's predictive relevance for a particular dependent construct.The Q 2 value is obtained using the blindfolding procedure, an iterative process that repeats until each data point has been omitted and the model re-estimated.For our model, this process was repeated 9 times.The blindfolding process is typically used on endogenous constructs with a reflecting measurement model specification and single-item endogenous constructs 81 .A Q 2 score greater than 0 indicates the model predicts a specific endogenous construct 86 .Values of 0 and lower, on the other hand, show a lack of predictive relevance.Table 9 demonstrates that all endogenous variable items in the model had a Q 2 value greater than 0, indicating that the model has predictive potential and may be used to ascertain new cases.

Discussion and conclusion
This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the interplay between Circular Design Strategies (CDS), Organizational Culture (OC), and the Economic Sustainability of Construction Projects (ESCP) within the context of the Chinese construction industry.The findings corroborate previous literature and extend the understanding of these constructs and their interrelations, offering theoretical and practical implications.
The primary goal of this study is to look at the link between circular design strategies and construction projects' economic sustainability, using organizational culture as a mediating factor (group, development, rational and hierarchical cultures).To the authors' knowledge, this is the first empirical study in northern China that looks at this theoretical framework.

Interplay between CDS and ESCP
The research demonstrates a significant, albeit nuanced, relationship between Circular Design Strategies and the Economic Sustainability of Construction Projects.This supports existing literature that underscores the importance of sustainable practices in enhancing the economic viability of construction projects 56,60 .However, the study goes further by quantifying the strength of this relationship, shedding light on the extent to which CDS directly influences ESCP in the Chinese construction sector.

Influence of Organizational Culture
The study reveals that Organizational Culture significantly mediates the relationship between CDS and ESCP.This finding aligns with the works 57,61 , highlighting the pivotal role of organizational values and practices in successfully implementing sustainable strategies.The study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence of the mediating role of OC, especially within the hierarchical and group culture dimensions, in the context of the Chinese construction industry.
The analysis of the relationship between CDS and ESCP in northern China based on the mediating role of the CVF of OC is the research's critical theoretical contribution (group, development, rational and hierarchical cultures).The circularity attitude is bolstered by the widespread theme of sustainable development, which has grabbed global consciousness and execution.The relationship between CDS and ESCP is yet to be studied, as mentioned in the first section.Consequent to the research questions, objectives, and subsequent findings, the research has drawn essential conclusions.
The first research question sought to ascertain the relationship between CDS and ESCP.Based on the findings, the relationship was significant, as hypothesized, although with a small effect size (0.036).Their supported hypothesis agrees with the assertion 61 , while the small and weak effect can collaborate with the studies 25,26 who concluded that companies struggle to apply CE thoughts to construction.Another reason for the perceived weakness of the relationship might be the limited knowledge of respondents on circular practices and novel ideas such as CDS.The results for the second research question we set out to answer with H1-H4 reveal that all hypotheses except the relationship between CDS and HC are supported.This makes sense and agrees with the findings 35,92 , which reflect the hierarchical culture's difficulty in accommodating new inventions in its stringent and highly controlled setting.In contrast, the strong relationship between CDS and DC highlights how DC incorporates innovative ideas into its fold, as concluded by 19,93 .
This study also revealed that the third research question addressed by H6-H9 was not supported except for the relationship between GC and ESCP.This contradicts previous research 94,95 that dwelled on the positive relationship between OC and ESCP.Regarding the effect of these cultures on sustaining construction economically, the hierarchical nature of firms plays a significant role, as highlighted in the results (0.027), as against development culture, which has a minor effect on the four cultures (0.001).This further validates the result from the second research question (H1-H4).The fourth research question sought to answer the mediating effect of OC on the relationship between CDS and ES.The result supports two hypotheses, H10 and H13, while H11 and H12 are not.The result confirms that the current low state of economic sustainability in the study area can be attributed to the two most prevalent culture types in construction firms: hierarchical culture (t = 2.609) and group culture (t = 1.713).Aside from these findings, this study contributes to closing a gap in applying CDS and CE principles in a developing country like China.Most earlier studies had centred on larger organizations in advanced countries.As a result, this study adds to the current body of knowledge by studying and investigating the link between CDS and ESCP through the lens of OC in northern China.Finally, this study contributes practically as the predictive relevance Q 2 confirms that the model can predict new cases.

Strategic implementation of CDS
The positive relationship between CDS and ESCP underscores the importance of integrating circular design strategies in construction projects to enhance economic sustainability.Construction firms are encouraged to adopt such methods, ensuring that resource usage is optimized and waste is minimized, thereby contributing to environmental sustainability and enhancing the economic performance of construction projects.

Cultural reorientation for sustainability
The mediating role of Organizational Culture in the relationship between CDS and ESCP suggests that firms should foster a culture that supports sustainability initiatives.Particularly, firms with hierarchical and group cultures, which have been shown to have a significant mediating effect, should consider reorienting their cultural values to be more conducive to adopting circular design strategies.This may involve training programs, revising policy frameworks, and incentivizing sustainable practices among employees.
This paper also presents the Chinese construction industry with practical implications besides the theoretical contributions.The research conceptual framework and the output model can be used as a guide in the construction industry to assist contracting and consulting firms in understanding the impact of their respective organizational cultures in applying circular design ideologies for attaining the economic sustainability of their projects.Previous literature has highlighted these firms' reluctance to engage these ideologies 25,26 , citing their organizational disposition as a probable reason for this shortcoming 12,27 .Using the model from this study, Partners, Administrators, Project managers and technical staff of these firms will be able to positively reposition their organizations to effectively adopt the appropriate strategy for attaining the much-required economic output for their projects.Administrators should strive to improve their knowledge of sustainable and circular practices to strengthen the relationship between CDS and ESCP.
Consequent to discovering the insignificant relationship between OC and ESCP in the study, firm administrators must spearhead an organizational paradigm shift from the current stringent culture to a more flexible and innovative culture to achieve the desired objective.This could be done simultaneously with investments in innovations, sustainable skills, and technology acquisitions to increase the economic performance of construction projects.When this is achieved, the state of the study variables, which HC and GC mediate, will improve and give way for the more flexible and innovative culture (DC) to mediate the relationship, thereby attaining ESCP in China.

Limitations of the study
Even though this study contributes to theory and practice, it has some limitations.To begin with, data collection is solely based on self-report questionnaires.Even though some scholars have questioned this method, it was deemed necessary due to the difficulty in independently assessing each construct.Furthermore, a comprehensive collinearity test was performed, and the VIF values demonstrated that CMV was not a concern in this study.Additionally, this study used cross-sectional data, which makes it impossible to assess ESCP before and after companies adopted the circular design concept.Hence, a longitudinal study is recommended, where more detailed findings can be imparted after adjustments are made.Also, this study was conducted entirely in China, emphasizing the country's building industry in the north.Consequently, the conclusions cannot be applied to less developed or more developed countries or other sectors within the same country.Despite these limitations, the findings offer fresh insights into CDS and ESCP in the Chinese construction industry based on the mediating role of OC.

Directions for future research
Considering the limitations encountered for this study, it can be taken up and extended in other directions.Other circular economy processes apart from design (circular construction, material sustainability, etc.) can also be investigated to ascertain how OC or other organizational attributes can mediate or moderate their relationship with sustainability.Future research can also replicate this approach for different industries in the study area.It would also be interesting to see how these constructs relate to other dimensions of sustainability, both environmental and social.
Apart from that, future research could employ a longitudinal design to assess the impact of CDS and changes in OC on ESCP over time.Expanding the study to include other regions or industries could provide a more comprehensive understanding of these relationships.

Conclusion
This study meticulously explored the intricate relationship between Circular Design Strategies (CDS), Organizational Culture (OC), and the Economic Sustainability of Construction Projects (ESCP) within the Chinese construction industry.It aimed to understand the direct impact of circular design strategies on economic sustainability and how the fabric of organizational culture mediates this relationship.The findings unearthed the nuanced yet impactful nature of these interrelationships, offering insights into the potential of CDS in driving economic sustainability when effectively integrated with a supportive organizational culture.

Summary and impactful nature of results
The research confirmed that CDS positively influences ESCP, albeit the strength of this influence varies, underscoring the importance of sustainable design practices in enhancing the economic viability of construction projects.More profoundly, the study revealed that OC significantly mediates this relationship, particularly highlighting the roles of hierarchical and group cultures.These insights are crucial, pointing to the fact that organisational culture must be aligned for circular design strategies to be effectively translated into economic sustainability.This alignment ensures that sustainable practices are adopted and deeply embedded within the firm's operations and values.

Consequential effects
The consequential effects of these findings are multifaceted.This study highlights the need for construction firms to foster a culture that supports innovation and sustainability.It calls for a strategic reorientation towards practices that drive economic benefits and contribute to a sustainable construction industry.For policymakers and stakeholders, the study underscores the importance of promoting policies and frameworks that encourage the adoption of circular design strategies and foster organizational cultures conducive to sustainability.

Limitations and directions for future research
While the study offers valuable insights, it acknowledges certain limitations.The use of cross-sectional data limits the ability to observe the evolution of these relationships over time.Additionally, the focus on the Chinese construction industry, while offering in-depth insights, may limit the generalizability of the findings to other contexts.Future research should consider longitudinal studies to capture the dynamics of these relationships over time.Expanding the geographical scope to include other regions or conducting comparative studies between different construction industries could provide a broader understanding of these relationships.Additionally, future studies might explore the elements within organizational culture that most effectively support the adoption and implementation of circular design strategies.

Final thoughts
In conclusion, this study emphasizes the critical role of circular design strategies and organizational culture in driving the economic sustainability of construction projects.It offers a nuanced understanding of how these elements interplay within the Chinese construction industry, providing a foundation for future research and practice to foster a more sustainable construction industry.The findings serve as a call to action for firms and policymakers alike to champion practices and cultures that drive economic growth and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient construction industry.
In a nutshell, the main contribution of the present research is its proof concerning the positive effect of CDS on ESCP and the discovery of adverse effects of OC on ESCP in the Chinese construction industry.As a mediator, HC weakens the relationship between CDS and ESCP.This signals that firms need to develop and switch to a more innovative culture like the DC to drive circular practices and eventually contribute to the economic sustainability of construction projects in China. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56452-0www.nature.com/scientificreports/ https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56452-0 enhanced awareness of natural resource scarcity among customers and providers.Manufacturers Vol:.(1234567890) Scientific Reports | (2024) 14:7890 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56452-0

Table 1 .
Questionnaire distribution, return and response rate.Significant values are in [bold].

Table 2 .
Questionnaire constructs, items and sources.

Table 7 .
Testing direct relationships.Significant values are in [bold].

Table 8 .
Testing the Indirect Relationships.Significant values are in [bold].