A Methodological Framework to Foster Social Value Creation in Architectural Practice

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The publication is very interesting. Of the very general comments, please note the facts and the precision of the expression. In the part of literature review and references to current publications in CE topics the publication is very poor - please work on this. I will not judge the language but please at least give the language correction. Please see the uploaded .PDF file for more comments.

The revised article in terms of subject matter and publication structure is suitable for acceptance and publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

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Author Response

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Reviewer 2 Report

The paper comment is enclosed. 

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Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear authors,

I have reviewed the manuscript entitled how can architectural companies foster social value creation for the affordable housing sector? A Danish perspective on the transition to Circular Economy. In this article, two surveys about DA's ability to deal with CE and SVA regarding strategy and action were conducted. Serval challenges in handling sustainability were concluded. In addition, a methodological framework with a combination of institutional indicators, categories, tools, and architects' perceptions of SVC was built.

The article is of interest both at the scientific level and especially in the engineering industry for the progress of sustainable development in the architectural profession. It is also useful for the assessment of the efficiency and effectiveness of CE for the affordable housing sector. The paper needs some improvements on the following issues.

 

In general:

1. In the article, two surveys are conducted, and a comprehensive methodological framework is built for evaluating the SVC. But the headline title is "How can architectural companies foster social value creation for the affordable housing sector?" so the title is wide for the context, please change a more appropriate title for the article.

2. Regarding the description in "The affordable housing sector in Denmark – and its challenges", the function, SVC, and proportion in all buildings of the affordable house are mentioned. But there is a lack of the challenge of the current affordable house, please elaborate and expand it based on what has been mentioned in page 3 line 75.

3. In the article, the development of previous studies on the SVC and CE in the construction sector should be added in the introduction.

4. In the article, some title is very long, e.g. page 9 line 334, The should be simplified.

5. What can be concluded through survey 1 regarding the SVC?

6. In the article, the questions within the survey have four categories, please explain the reasons why the survey is divided into four categories, and the relationship and function of the four categories in the survey respectively.

 

Details:

1. In page 2 line 81, what is the meaning of “avoid intra- and inter-dimensional load shifts”?

2. In page 3 line 122, the surveys are divided into two parts - strategic level and optional level, so what is the relationship between CE and SVC, and what do the components consist in the SVC? Additionally, how to make sure that the surveys are semi-quantitative?

3. In page 4 line 189, a print mistake is that “Survey process” shouldn’t appear in the result, please alter an appropriate title

4. In page 11 line 406, the content that how the SVC is carried out by respondents should be completed.

5. In page 15 line 562, what’s the relationship between the evaluation of SVC and the role of architectural firms (the perception of architects) in SVC?

6. In page 17 line 674, Figure 13 is vague, please alter it to a distinct one.

 

Grammar problem:

1. In page 1 line 15: " without the policymakers thoroughly assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of CE " needs to be replaced with " without thoroughly assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of CE by the policymakers ".

2. In page 2.Line93: " Focus " needs to be replaced with " Focusing "

3. In page 7 line 282: " toward " needs to be replaced with " towards ".

4. In page 8 line 313: " to " needs to be deleted.

 

5. In page 15 line 608: there is a print mistake " mostb".

Author Response

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Reviewer 4 Report

The paper analyses Danish affordable housing sector as a target to achieve sustainable buildings and circular economy. Public investments are used without the policy makers thoroughly assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of circular economy, so there is a need for integrated approaches to life cycle sustainability assessments covering Social Value Creation, according to authors. To assess the needs and identify challenges, the authors conducted a survey among managers and employees of architectural companies and summarised the results of the survey and provide a methodological framework to assess SVC for the affordable housing sector.

 

The paper is well written and clearly presents all relevant concepts. Methodology is well described. The results section presents the results of the survey in terms of summarising given responses by the respondents. However, developed methodological framework for assessment of SVC in the discussion section may be considered as the most important result of the research and should be emphasised as such. Further refinement of decision making is anticipated as future work through AHP and ANP tools.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report