A Framework for Assessing the Impacts of COVID-19 on the Construction Industries in Developing Countries
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 38, Issue 5
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has struck the construction industry gravely. Accordingly, numerous studies reported the impact of COVID-19 on various aspects of the construction industry and projects. However, there exists no framework that can guide the evaluation of holistic impact of COVID-19 on a construction project specifically for developing countries. To fulfill this knowledge gap, this study conducted state-of-the-art review of recent related journal articles from developing countries and developed an eight-dimensional assessment framework to assess the impact of COVID-19 on construction projects. These eight dimensions include: (1) on-site safety measures, (2) productivity, (3) supply chain management, (4) transportation, (5) labor issues, (6) time and cost performances, (7) contractual implications, and (8) social impact. Additionally, to demonstrate the usefulness of the framework, the study utilized the framework to assess four projects in three developing countries: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Finally, the study presented the best practices to mitigate the impacts of any future wave of COVID-19 on construction projects. The developed framework holds potential applications ranging from policy planning to construction operations under COVID-19 and similar pandemics. It can be implemented to assess the impacts of COVID-19 on the construction industry, evaluating project performance across eight dimensions. Moreover, it aids in the development of COVID-19 impact management actions to control project performance. Additionally, the framework assists in building organizational resilience for managing construction projects under the challenges posed by COVID-19 or similar pandemic scenarios.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
References
Ababulgu, N. A., and H. W. Fufa. 2021. “The horrors of Covid-19 and the recent macroeconomy in Ethiopia.” J. Knowl. Econ. 13 (Jan): 305–320. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-020-00713-6.
Agyekum, K., A. S. Kukha, and J. Amudjie. 2021. “The impact of Covid-19 on the construction industry in Ghana: The case of some selected firms.” J. Eng. Des. Technol. 20 (1): 222–244. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-11-2020-0476.
Al Amri, T., and M. Marey-Pérez. 2020. “Impact of Covid-19 on Oman’s construction industry.” Tech. Soc. Sci. J. 9 (Jul): 661–670. https://doi.org/10.47577/tssj.v9i1.1021.
Alflayyeh, S., and F. A. Belhaj. 2020. “The impact of coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic on retail business in Saudi Arabia: A theoretical review.” Eur. J. Mol. Clin. Med. 7 (1): 3547–3554.
Alkahtani, M., M. Omair, Q. S. Khalid, G. Hussain, I. Ahmad, and C. Pruncu. 2021. “A covid-19 supply chain management strategy based on variable production under uncertain environment conditions.” Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 18 (4): 1662. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041662.
Al Mansoor, H. M., A. B. Alsaud, and H. Yas. 2021. “The impact of Covid 19 on increasing the cost of labor and project price in the United Arab Emirates.” Int. J. Pharm. Res. 13 (1): 5069–5076. https://doi.org/10.31838/ijpr/2021.13.01.691.
Al-Mhdawi, M. K. S., M. P. Brito, M. Abdul Nabi, I. H. El-adaway, and B. S. Onggo. 2021. “Capturing the impact of COVID-19 on construction projects in developing countries: A case study of Iraq.” J. Manage. Eng. 38 (1): 05021015. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000991.
Alsharef, A., S. Banerjee, S. M. J. Uddin, A. Albert, and E. Jaselskis. 2021. “Early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the United States construction industry.” Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 18 (4): 1559. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041559.
Al-Youbi, A. O., A. Al-Hayani, A. Rizwan, and H. Choudhry. 2020. “Implications of COVID-19 on the labor market of Saudi Arabia: The role of universities for a sustainable workforce.” Sustainability 12 (17): 7090. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12177090.
Amoah, C., and F. Simpeh. 2021. “Implementation challenges of COVID-19 safety measures at construction sites in South Africa.” J. Facil. Manage. 19 (1): 111–128. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFM-08-2020-0061.
Antara, N. F. 2022. “Public transports to carry 50% passengers from Saturday, fares not rising yet.” Dhaka Tribune, January 12, 2022.
Araya, F. 2021a. “Modeling the spread of Covid-19 on construction workers: An agent-based approach.” Saf. Sci. 133 (Sep): 105022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2020.105022.
Araya, F. 2021b. “Modeling working shifts in construction projects using an agent-based approach to minimize the spread of Covid-19.” J. Build. Eng. 41 (Feb): 102413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.102413.
Artpairin, A., and S. Pinmanee. 2022. “Critical success factors in the management of petrochemical construction projects for contractors and subcontractors during the Covid-19 pandemic.” Int. J. Constr. Manage. 23 (11): 1956–1968. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2022.2029678.
Aslan, S., and O. H. Türkakın. 2022. “A construction project scheduling methodology considering Covid-19 pandemic measures.” J. Saf. Res. 80 (Feb): 54–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2021.11.007.
Assaad, R., and I. H. El-adaway. 2021. “Guidelines for responding to Covid-19 pandemic: Best practices, impacts, and future research directions.” J. Manage. Eng. 37 (3): 06021001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000906.
Azeem, G., M. Mirmozaffari, R. A. Khan, and R. Yazdani. 2022. “Exploring the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic on risks faced by infrastructure projects in Pakistan.” Int. J. Appl. Decis. Sci. 15 (2): 181–200. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1504/IJADS.2022.121558.
Bartik, A. W., M. Bertrand, Z. Cullen, E. L. Glaeser, M. Luca, and C. Stanton. 2020. “The impact of Covid-19 on small business outcomes and expectations.” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 117 (30): 17656–17666. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2006991117.
Bhagat, R. B., H. Sahoo, and D. Govil. 2020. The Covid-19, migration and livelihood in India: A background paper for policy makers. Mumbai: International Institute for Population Sciences.
Boamah, F. A., J. Zhang, M. U. Shehzad, and D. Wen. 2022. “Exploring the impact of social capitals and knowledge creation on construction firms performance in the Covid-19 era.” J. Eng. Des. Technol. 22 (2): 404–421. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-10-2021-0569.
Briggs, B., C. J. Friedland, I. Nahmens, C. Berryman, and Y. Zhu. 2022. “Industrial construction safety policies and practices with cost impacts in a Covid-19 pandemic environment: A Louisiana DOW case study.” J. Loss Prev. Process Ind. 76 (Dec): 104723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2021.104723.
Casady, C. B., and D. Baxter. 2020. “Pandemics, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and force majeure | COVID-19 expectations and implications.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 38 (12): 1077–1085. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2020.1817516.
Chih, Y.-Y., C. Y.-L. Hsiao, A. Zolghadr, and N. Naderpajouh. 2022. “Resilience of organizations in the construction industry in the face of COVID-19 disturbances: Dynamic capabilities perspective.” J. Manag. Eng. 38 (2). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)me.1943-5479.0001014.
Chohan, U. W. 2020. “Forecasting the economic impact of coronavirus on developing countries: Case of Pakistan.” In Proc., CASS Working Papers on Economics and National Affairs, Working Paper ID: EC016UC. Rochester, NY: SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3563616.
Chowdhury, M. B., and M. Chakraborty. 2021. “The impact of Covid-19 on the migrant workers and remittances flow to Bangladesh.” South Asian Surv. 28 (1): 38–56. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971523121995365.
De Bel-Air, F. 2018. Demography, migration, and labour market in Saudi Arabia. Fiesole, Italy: European Univ.
Dhinakaran, D. P., and N. Kesavan. 2020. “Exports and imports stagnation in India during COVID-19—A review.” GIS Bus. 15 (4): 1158–1177.
Ebekozien, A., and C. Aigbavboa. 2021. “Covid-19 recovery for the Nigerian construction sites: The role of the fourth industrial revolution technologies.” Sustainable Cities Soc. 69 (Feb): 102803. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2021.102803.
Elnaggar, S. M., and H. Elhegazy. 2022. “Study the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the construction industry in Egypt.” Structures 35 (Sep): 1270–1277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2021.09.028.
Fonseca, L. M., and A. L. Azevedo. 2020. “Covid-19: Outcomes for global supply chains.” Manage. Mark. 15 (1): 424–438. https://doi.org/10.2478/mmcks-2020-0025.
Gamil, Y., and A. Alhagar. 2020. “The impact of pandemic crisis on the survival of construction industry: A case of COVID-19.” Mediterr. J. Social Sci. 11 (Jul): 122.
Gan, W. H., and D. Koh. 2021. “COVID-19 and return-to-work for the construction sector: Lessons from Singapore.” Saf. Health Work 12 (2): 277–281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2021.04.001.
Hansen, S. 2020. “Does the Covid-19 outbreak constitute a force majeure event? A pandemic impact on construction contracts.” J. Civ. Eng. Forum 6 (1): 201. https://doi.org/10.22146/jcef.54997.
Hussain, S., W. Xuetong, T. Hussain, A. H. Khoja, and M. Z. Zia. 2021. “Assessing the impact of Covid-19 and safety parameters on energy project performance with an analytical hierarchy process.” Util. Policy 70 (Jul): 101210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jup.2021.101210.
Ibn-Mohammed, T., et al. 2021. “A critical review of the impacts of Covid-19 on the global economy and ecosystems and opportunities for circular economy strategies.” Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 164 (Sep): 105169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105169.
Islam, M. S., M. M. Islam, H. R. T. Imran, M. Skitmore, and M. P. Nepal. 2020. “Grasping the nonconformities in building construction supply chains.” J. Perform. Constr. Facil. 35 (1): 04020141. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0001546.
Jain, R., J. Budlender, R. Zizzamia, and I. Bassier. 2020. The labor market and poverty impacts of Covid-19 in South Africa. Oxford: Centre for the Study of African Economies.
Jeon, J., S. Padhye, A. Bhattacharyya, H. Cai, and M. Hastak. 2021. “Impact of Covid-19 on the US construction industry as revealed in the Purdue index for construction.” J. Manage. Eng. 38 (1): 04021082. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000995.
Jin, F., W. Xiang, Z. Ji, and B. Zhang. 2022. “Quantifying the evolutionary mechanism of COVID-19 impact on international construction multi-projects: A risk driver perspective.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage. 30 (8): 3602–3619. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-10-2021-0887.
Kahneman, D., O. Sibony, and C. R. Sunstein. 2021. Noise—A flaw in human judgment. London: William Collins.
Karim, M. R., M. T. Islam, and B. Talukder. 2020. “Covid-19’s impacts on migrant workers from Bangladesh: In search of policy intervention.” World Dev. 136 (Dec): 105123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105123.
Khalafallah, A., E. Soliman, and K. Alrasheed. 2022. “Impacts of Covid-19 on the middle east construction industry.” J. Eng. Res. 10 (3B): 34–58. https://doi.org/10.36909/jer.14823.
Leontie, V., L. G. Maha, and I. C. Stoian. 2022. “Covid-19 pandemic and its effects on the usage of information technologies in the construction industry: The case of Romania.” Buildings 12 (2): 166. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12020166.
Liu, A. M. M. 2003. “The quest for quality in public housing projects: A behaviour-to-outcome paradigm.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 21 (2): 147–158. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144619032000049700.
Lorenzo, G. A., E. A. Bernardo, and A. G. Galang. 2022. “Covid 19: Impacts and challenges in the construction industry.” J. Posit. Sch. Psychol. 6 (3): 3064–3073.
Majumder, S., and D. Biswas. 2022. “Covid-19: Impact on quality of work life in real estate sector.” Qual. Quant. 56 (2): 413–427. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-021-01136-4.
McLennan, M. 2022. “Five ways Covid-19 has impacted construction companies.” Accessed October 27, 2022. https://www.marsh.com/au/industries/construction/insights/five-ways-covid-19-has-impacted-construction-companies.html.
Nnaji, C., Z. Jin, and A. Karakhan. 2022. “Safety and health management response to Covid-19 in the construction industry: A perspective of fieldworkers.” Process Saf. Environ. Prot. 159 (Mar): 477–488. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2022.01.002.
Ogunnusi, M., M. Hamma-adama, H. Salman, and T. Kouider. 2020. “Covid-19 pandemic: The effects and prospects in the construction industry.” Int. J. Real Estate Stud. 14 (S2): 120–128. https://doi.org/10.11113/intrest.v14nS2.71.
Osman, I., and H. Ataei. 2022. “Studying construction claims due to Covid-19 for road and highway projects.” J. Leg. Aff. Disput. Resolut. Eng. Constr. 14 (1): 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)la.1943-4170.0000517.
Osuizugbo, I. C. 2020. “Disruptions and responses within Nigeria construction industry amid Covid-19 threat.” Covenant J. Res. Built Environ. 8 (2): 37–48.
Padhan, R., and K. P. Prabheesh. 2021. “The economics of Covid-19 pandemic: A survey.” Econ. Anal. Policy 70 (Jun): 220–237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2021.02.012.
Parvathamma, G. L. 2020. “Unemployment dimensions of Covid-19 and government response in India-An analytical study.” Int. J. Health Econ. Dev. 6 (2): 28–35.
Rodríguez-Dorans, E., and P. Jacobs. 2020. “‘Making narrative portraits: A methodological approach to analysing qualitative data.’” Int. J. Soc. Res. Methodol. 23 (6): 611–623. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2020.1719609.
Salik, K. M. 2020. Policy review remittances and Covid-19: Is Pakistan ready for a likely decline in flows. Islamabad: Government of Pakistan.
Sami Ur Rehman, M., M. T. Shafiq, and M. Afzal. 2022. “Impact of Covid-19 on project performance in the UAE construction industry.” J. Eng. Des. Technol. 20 (1): 245–266. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-12-2020-0481.
Sankaran, S. 2018. “Megaproject management and leadership: A narrative analysis of life stories—Past and present.” Int. J. Manage. Project Bus. 11 (1): 53–79. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMPB-07-2017-0081.
Simpeh, F., and C. Amoah. 2021. “Assessment of measures instituted to curb the spread of Covid-19 on construction site.” Int. J. Constr. Manage. 23 (3): 383–391. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2021.1874678.
Sivadas, H., and K. Priyanka. 2021. “The impact of Covid-19 on emigrants and their families of Kerala: A comparative study of migrants to the Gulf and other countries.” Ann. RSCB 25 (4): 14781–14796.
Smith, H. 2012. “Force Majeure clauses: FIDIC, ENAA and drafting bespoke.” Constr. Disput. Avoid. Newsl. 37 (Mar).
Stiles, S., D. Golightly, and B. Ryan. 2021. “Impact of Covid-19 on health and safety in the construction sector.” Hum. Factors Ergon. Manuf. 31 (4): 425–437. https://doi.org/10.1002/hfm.20882.
Takenaka, A. K., J. Villafuerte, R. Gaspar, and B. Narayanan. 2020. COVID-19 impact on international migration, remittances, and recipient households in developing Asia. Metro Manila: Asian Development Bank. https://doi.org/10.22617/BRF200219-2.
Tan, S. Y., and N. Zainon. 2022. “Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the quantity surveying practices in Malaysia.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage. 30 (8): 3480–3508. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-11-2021-0988.
Timilsina, S. P., S. K. Ojha, and B. R. Dhungana. 2021. “Impact of Covid-19 on construction industry of Nepal.” Mod. Econ. 12 (8): 1232–1244. https://doi.org/10.4236/me.2021.128064.
Umar, T. 2022. “The impact of Covid-19 on the GCC construction industry.” Int. J. Serv. Sci. Manage. Eng. Technol. 13 (2): 1–17. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijssmet.20220301.oa1.
Wang, W., S. Gao, L. Mi, J. Xing, K. Shang, and Y. Qiao. 2021. “Exploring the adoption of BIM amidst the COVID-19 crisis in China.” Build. Res. Inf. 49 (8): 930–947. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2021.1921565.
Yas, N. 2021. “Effects of Covid-19 pandemic on contractual relations.” J. Leg. Ethical Regul. Issues 24 (3): 1–9.
Zhang, P. 2022. “China’s covid-19 wave spurs tighter controls we use calls despite Beijing’s call for ‘targeted’ measures.” Coronavirus Pandemic. Accessed December 21, 2022. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3200682/chinas-covid-19-wave-spurs-tighter-controls-despite-beijings-calls-targeted-measures.
Zin, N. M., and E. M. Ahnuar. 2021. “Covid-19: Factors affecting on awareness level of the force majeure clause in the construction contract.” Built Environ. J. 19 (1): 15. https://doi.org/10.24191/bej.v19i1.14410.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 38 • Issue 5 • October 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 9, 2023
Accepted: Apr 8, 2024
Published online: Jul 27, 2024
Published in print: Oct 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Dec 27, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
Authors
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.