What drives the adoption of quality management behavior? Evidence from owners in China’s construction industry

Purpose Owner involvement in quality management is essential to guaranteeing construction quality. However, what drives project owners’ adoption of quality management behavior remains unclear, which is not conducive to effective construction quality management. This study aims to explore the determinants of owners’ quality management behavior. Design/methodology/approach The theory of planned behavior (TPB) was used to underpin the development of a hypothetical model that encapsulated the potential factors influencing owners’ quality management behavior. Practitioners’ perceptions were gathered through a questionnaire survey, and partial least squares structural equation modeling was employed to test the conceptual model. Findings The results indicated that project constraints and behavioral intention directly influenced owners’ quality management behavior; moreover, behavioral intention was affected by perceived behavioral control. However, governmental supervision was not a determinant of owners’ quality management behavior adoption. Research limitations/implications The study is subject to limited contextual factors and region-specific investigation, which may hinder a comprehensive understanding of quality management behavior. Future research should incorporate a broader range of influencing factors (e.g. organizational culture and regulatory environments), and conduct a comparative study in other countries. Originality/value To bridge the gap on the determinants of quality management behavior, this exploratory study developed a novel conceptual model based on the TPB. The extended TPB model serves as an instrument for deciphering the decision-making mechanisms of owners’ quality management behavior and informs the development of targeted strategies for effective quality management tailored to project owners.