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Critical success factors for large building construction projects: Perception of consultants and contractors

Hasan Mathar (Department of Construction Engineering and Management, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia)
Sadi Assaf (Department of Construction Engineering and Management, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia)
Mohammad A. Hassanain (Department of Architectural Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia)
Abdullatif Abdallah (Department of Management and Marketing, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia)
Ahmed M.Z. Sayed (Department of Construction Engineering and Management, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia)

Built Environment Project and Asset Management

ISSN: 2044-124X

Article publication date: 20 January 2020

Issue publication date: 2 July 2020

1081

Abstract

Purpose

The literature revealed a limited number of studies on critical success factors (CSFs) in Saudi Arabia. These studies were either outdated, covered limited factors or focused on very specific issues of a project. In response to this knowledge gap, the purpose of this paper is to identify and assess the factors which affect the success of construction projects in Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach

In all, 91 CSFs were identified from the literature, and grouped under eight categories according to categorization schemes adopted by earlier studies and common characteristics shared by the factors. A questionnaire survey was adopted since it permits the collection of large volumes of data in a short period. In total, 61 responses from industry experts were used to compute the significance index for each factor and rank the most CSFs.

Findings

Contractors viewed the three most significant CSFs as “competency and capability of the contractors’ key personnel in different disciplines,” “adequacy of labor resources and their skills” and “the impact of the project on the public.” Consultants viewed the three most significant CSFs as “competency and capability of the consultants’ key personnel in different disciplines,” “clear communication channels between the owner/PM and the designer” and “PM competency, authority and involvement.”

Originality/value

Although a significant number of studies have investigated CSFs for construction projects, these studies do not provide an extensive list of CSFs, and none have studied CSFs in large-scale construction projects in Saudi Arabia from the viewpoint of two key stakeholders. This study attempts to address this knowledge gap.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors thank King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals for the support and facilities that made this research possible.

Citation

Mathar, H., Assaf, S., Hassanain, M.A., Abdallah, A. and Sayed, A.M.Z. (2020), "Critical success factors for large building construction projects: Perception of consultants and contractors", Built Environment Project and Asset Management, Vol. 10 No. 3, pp. 349-367. https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-07-2019-0057

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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