TECHNICAL PAPERS
Jun 1, 1999

Critical Success Factors for Different Project Objectives

Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 125, Issue 3

Abstract

The identification of key factors for construction project success enables appropriate allocation of limited resources. Most of the related past work only identified critical success factors for construction projects in general. The present study seeks to distinguish these factors according to the project objectives of budget, schedule, and quality. The analytic hierarchy process is adopted to determine the relative importance of success-related factors. A hierarchical model for construction project success is presented. Sixty-seven success-related factors are considered. These factors are grouped under four main project aspects, namely, project characteristics, contractual arrangements, project participants, and interactive processes in the hierarchical model for project success. A questionnaire was developed to facilitate systematic data collection in this study. Experts with an overall average of 20 years of experience in the construction industry were invited to participate in the survey. Critical success factors addressing budget performance, schedule performance, quality performance, and overall project success are identified. Some pertinent findings of the study are discussed. Comparisons with findings of previous studies using neural network approach are also presented.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

References

1.
Alarcon, L. F., and Ashley, D. B. (1996). “Modeling project performance for decision making.”J. Constr. Engrg. and Mgmt., ASCE, 122(3), 265–273.
2.
Baker, B. N., Murphy, D. C., and Fisher, D. ( 1983). “Factors affecting project success.” Project management handbook, D. I. Cleland and W. R. King, eds., Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 669–685.
3.
Chan, D. W. M., and Kumaraswamy, M. M. ( 1997). “A comparative study of causes of time overruns in Hong Kong construction projects.” Int. J. Proj. Mgmt., 15(1), 55–63.
4.
Chua, D. K. H., Kog, Y. C., Loh, P. K., and Jaselskis, E. J. (1997). “Model for construction budget performance—Neural network approach.”J. Constr. Engrg. and Mgmt., ASCE, 123(3), 214–222.
5.
Construction Management Committee of the ASCE Construction Division. (1991). “Constructability and constructability programs: White paper.”J. Constr. Engrg. and Mgmt., ASCE, 117(1), 67–89.
6.
Diekmann, J. E., and Girard, M. J. (1995). “Are contract disputes predictable?”J. Constr. Engrg. and Mgmt., ASCE, 121(4), 335–363.
7.
Dozzi, S. P., AbouRizk, S. M., and Schroeder, S. L. (1996). “Utility-theory model for bid markup decisions.”J. Constr. Engrg. and Mgmt., ASCE, 122(2), 119–124.
8.
Expert choice for Windows, user manual. (1996). Expert Choice Inc., Pittsburgh.
9.
Gordon, C. M. (1994). “Choosing appropriate construction contracting method.”J. Constr. Engrg. and Mgmt., ASCE, 120(1), 196–210.
10.
Hadipriono, F. C., and Chang, K. S. ( 1988). “Knowledge base development for international construction operations.” Civ. Engrg. Sys., 5, 220–226.
11.
Jaselskis, E. J., and Ashley, D. B. (1991). “Optimal allocation of project management resources for achieving success.”J. Constr. Engrg. and Mgmt., ASCE, 117(2), 321–340.
12.
Jeffery, P. ( 1985). “Project managers and major projects.” Proj. Mgmt., 3(4), 225–230.
13.
Kog, Y. C., Chua, D. K. H., Loh, P. K., and Jaselkis, E. J. ( 1999). “Key determinants for construction schedule performance.” Int. J. of Proj. Mgmt., in press.
14.
Larson, E. (1995). “Project partnering: Results of study of 280 construction projects.”J. Mgmt. Engrg., ASCE, 11(2), 30–35.
15.
Lim, E. C. ( 1993). “Influence of management and labour on construction productivity in Singapore.” Build. Res. and Information, 12(5), 296–303.
16.
Macomber, J. D. ( 1989). “You can manage construction risks.” Harvard Business Rev., 67(2), 155–165.
17.
Might, R. J., and Fisher, W. A. ( 1985). “The role of structural factors in determining project management success.” IEEE Trans. on Engrg. Mgmt., 32(2), 71–77.
18.
Mohsini, R. A., and Davidson, C. H. ( 1992). “Determinants of performance in the traditional building process.” Constr. Mgmt. and Economics, 10(4), 343–359.
19.
Nahapiet, J., and Nahapiet, H. ( 1985). The management of construction projects—Case studies from the USA and UK. The Chartered Institute of Building, U.K.
20.
Paek, J. H., Lee, Y. W., and Napier, T. R. (1992). “Selection of design/build proposal using fuzzy-logic system.”J. Constr. Engrg. and Mgmt., ASCE, 118(2), 303–317.
21.
Pinto, J. K., and Slevin, D. P. ( 1987). “Critical factors in successful project implementation.” IEEE Trans. on Engrg. Mgmt., 34(1), 22–27.
22.
Pocock, J. B., Hyun, C. T., Liu, L. Y., and Kim, M. K. (1996). “Relationship between project interaction and performance indicators.”J. Constr. Engrg. and Mgmt., ASCE, 122(2), 165–176.
23.
Saaty, T. L. ( 1980). The analytic hierarchy process: Planning, priority setting, resources allocation. McGraw-Hill, London, England.
24.
Saaty, T. L., and Vargas, L. G. ( 1991). Prediction, projection and forecasting. Kluwer Academic, Boston.
25.
Sanvido, V., Parfitt, K., Guveris, M., and Coyle, M. (1992). “Critical success factors for construction projects.”J. Constr. Engrg. and Mgmt., ASCE, 118(1), 94–111.
26.
Ward, S. C., Curtis, B., and Chapman, C. B. ( 1991). “Objectives and performance in construction projects.” Constr. Mgmt. and Economic, 9(4), 343–353.
27.
Yeomans, K. A. ( 1979). Statistics for the social scientist 2: Applied statistics. Penguin Education, Middlesex, England.
28.
Zahedi, F. ( 1986). “The analytic hierarchy process—A survey of the method and its applications.” Interfaces, 96–108.
29.
Zall, D. C., Laufer, A., Shapira, A., and Howell, G. A. (1994). “Process of planning during construction.”J. Constr. Engrg. and Mgmt., ASCE, 120(3), 561–578.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 125Issue 3June 1999
Pages: 142 - 150

History

Published online: Jun 1, 1999
Published in print: Jun 1999

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

Member, ASCE,
Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Nat. Univ. of Singapore, Singapore 119260.
Executive Dir., Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner (SEAsia) Pte. Ltd., Anson Centre, Singapore 079904.
Res. Scholar, Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Nat. Univ. of Singapore, Singapore 119260.

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

Cited by

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share