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A new framework for ranking Critical Success Factors for International Construction Projects Cover

A new framework for ranking Critical Success Factors for International Construction Projects

Open Access
|Nov 2021

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1

A new framework of CSFs related to the success of ICPs. CSFs, critical success factors; ICPs, international construction projects.
A new framework of CSFs related to the success of ICPs. CSFs, critical success factors; ICPs, international construction projects.

Profile of participants in the pre-pilot research

IDPositionExperience in international business (years)Number of foreign countries participated inNumber of ICPs involved in
Interviewee 1Project manager24512
Interviewee 2CEO40526
Interviewee 3Technical director32320
Interviewee 4CEO668
Interviewee 5Retired PM303612
Interviewee 6Project manager588
Interviewee 7Project manager714
Interviewee 8CEO622
Interviewee 9CEO16510
Interviewee 10CEO1436

Final list of CSFs for the success of ICPs

GroupVariableCSFs
Project-related factorsCSF-P-1Project size and value
CSF-P-2Constructability/Complexity
CSF-P-3Site management
CSF-P-4Accurate initial cost estimates
CSF-P-5The formal dispute resolution process
CSF-P-6Adequate funding throughout the project
CSF-P-7Effective project planning and control
CSF-P-8IT support for project management
CSF-P-9Appropriate project identification
CSF-P-10Effective project management

Human-related factorsCSF-H-1Project manager's competency
CSF-H-2Project manager's experience
CSF-H-3Decision-making ability of project manager
CSF-H-4Leadership skills of project manager
CSF-H-5Project manager's adaptability to make changes in the project plan
CSF-H-6Commitment
CSF-H-7Troubleshooting skills of project team members (problem-solving)
CSF-H-8Multidisciplinary team

Organizational factorsCSF-O-1Top management support
CSF-O-2Company's flexibility
CSF-O-3Comprehensive contract documentation
CSF-O-4Quality control
CSF-O-5Effective project monitoring and control
CSF-O-6Clear goals and objectives
CSF-O-7Strong financing capacity
CSF-O-8Effective organizing and planning
CSF-O-9Company references
CSF-O-10Company experience in selected market

External factorsCSF-E-1Economic conditions in the host country
CSF-E-2Financial conditions in the host country
CSF-E-3Regularity of construction market
CSF-E-4Level of competition in the host country
CSF-E-5Legislation in the host country
CSF-E-6Public procurement system in the host country
CSF-E-7Investor
CSF-E-8Existence of a foreign partner
CSF-E-9Local construction companies/subcontractors

CSF group ranking

Generic group of CSFss-factor
Project-related factors67.7
Human-related factors66.8
Organizational factors70.8
External factors71.9

j_otmcj-2021-0030_tab_010

Group of CSFsCodeSkewnessKurtosis

StatisticStand. ErrorStatisticStand. Error
Project-related factorsCSF-P-13.001.2660.09
CSF-P-24.110.9882.31
CSF-P-33.540.8770.92
CSF-P-43.540.8170.93
CSF-P-53.031.1160.68
CSF-P-63.370.9367.47
CSF-P-73.461.2769.16
CSF-P-82.740.9454.910
CSF-P-93.540.9170.94
CSF-P-103.491.3469.75

Human-related factorsCSF-H-13.460.9778.31
CSF-H-23.661.2473.12
CSF-H-33.401.1368.04
CSF-H-43.571.1071.43
CSF-H-52.910.8758.38
CSF-H-63.091.0261.76
CSF-H-73.111.1462.35
CSF-H-83.061.0761.17

Organizational factorsCSF-O-13.711.2174.32
CSF-O-23.341.0766.99
CSF-O-33.230.9064.610
CSF-O-43.710.9774.33
CSF-O-53.431.1568.68
CSF-O-63.460.8169.16
CSF-O-73.631.1272.65
CSF-O-83.740.8774.91
CSF-O-93.691.4373.74
CSF-O-103.460.8469.17

External factorsCSF-E-13.370.7667.47
CSF-E-23.490.7369.76
CSF-E-33.540.8470.95
CSF-E-43.370.9367.48
CSF-E-53.690.8973.74
CSF-E-62.941.1758.99
CSF-E-74.001.0180.02
CSF-E-83.890.8278.93
CSF-E-94.031.0880.61

Ranking of CSFs related to the success of ICPs

Group of CSFsCodeMeanSDs-factorGroup rankOverall rank
Project-related factorsCSF-P-13.001.2660.0934
CSF-P-24.110.9882.311
CSF-P-33.540.8770.9214
CSF-P-43.540.8170.9315
CSF-P-53.031.1160.6833
CSF-P-63.370.9367.4725
CSF-P-73.461.2769.1620
CSF-P-82.740.9454.91037
CSF-P-93.540.9170.9416
CSF-P-103.491.3469.7518

Human-related factorsCSF-H-13.460.9778.315
CSF-H-23.661.2473.1211
CSF-H-33.401.1368.0424
CSF-H-43.571.1071.4313
CSF-H-52.910.8758.3836
CSF-H-63.091.0261.7631
CSF-H-73.111.1462.3530
CSF-H-83.061.0761.1732

Organizational factorsCSF-O-13.711.2174.327
CSF-O-23.341.0766.9928
CSF-O-33.230.9064.61029
CSF-O-43.710.9774.338
CSF-O-53.431.1568.6823
CSF-O-63.460.8169.1621
CSF-O-73.631.1272.6512
CSF-O-83.740.8774.916
CSF-O-93.691.4373.749
CSF-O-103.460.8469.1722

External factorsCSF-E-13.370.7667.4726
CSF-E-23.490.7369.7619
CSF-E-33.540.8470.9517
CSF-E-43.370.9367.4827
CSF-E-53.690.8973.7410
CSF-E-62.941.1758.9935
CSF-E-74.001.0180.023
CSF-E-83.890.8278.934
CSF-E-94.031.0880.612

j_otmcj-2021-0030_tab_009

Generic group of CSFsStatisticdfSig.
Project-related factors0.942340.070
Human-related factors0.971340.498
Organizational factors0.940340.094
External factors0.959340.234

Profile of the respondents

VariablesFrequencyPercentage (%)
Company role
  Constructor2674.3
  Consultant925.7
Company type
  Small1645.7
  Medium514.3
  Large1440.0
International experience (years)
  <5514.3
  5–10720.0
  10–201028.6
  201337.1
Number of ICPs
  <10822.9
  10–201851.4
  20925.7
Type of ICP
  Private822.9
  Public2365.7
  PPP411.4
Location of ICP
  EU members1028.6
  Non EU members1645.7
  Africa514.3
  Asia411.4

j_otmcj-2021-0030_tab_008

Generic group of CSFsCronbach's alphaNo. of items
Project-related factors0.96610
Human-related factors0.9798
Organizational factors0.96110
External factors0.9459

j_otmcj-2021-0030_tab_007

CSF indicatorsNot critical (%)Potentially critical (%)Critical (%)
Project-related factors
1Project size and value107020
2Project characteristics/Uniqueness of project activities403030
3Constructability/Complexity301060
4Site management305020
5Accurate initial cost estimates301060
6Formal dispute resolution process207010
7Adequate funding throughout the project203050
8Effective project planning and control207010
9IT support for project management405010
10Language barriers6040
11Appropriate project identification104050
12Effective project management202060
13Completion of the project on time204040
14Quality of the work304030
15Innovative technical approaches403030
Human-related factors
16Organizing skills of project manager403030
17Coordinating ability of project manager402040
18Project manager's competency401050
19Communication skills of project manager502030
20Project manager's experience40 60
21Education level of the project manager402040
22Political connections of the project manager104010
23Decision-making ability of project manager401050
24Leadership skills of project manager302050
25Motivating skills of project manager403030
26Project manager's adaptability to changes in project plan206020
27Project manager's ability for risk identification204040
28Technical background of project team members304030
29Communication skills of project team members403030
30Commitment302050
31Troubleshooting skills of project team members (problem-solving)305020
32Effective relationship among project team members304030
33Multidisciplinary team401050
34Multinational team503020
Organizational factors
35Top management support302050
36Organizational structure603010
37Functional managers support504010
38Company's flexibility305020
39Good business/government relationships602020
40Comprehensive contract documentation 7030
41Quality control203050
42Effective project monitoring and control404020
43Clear goals and objectives106030
44Control of cash-flow404020
45Strong financing capacity202060
46Effective organizing and planning206020
47Risk management106030
48Follow and adopt new technologies6040
49Skillful workers404020
50Cost management404020
External factors
51Economic and politic environment305020
52Financial environment302050
53Regularity of construction market and legislation305020
54Level of competition305020
55Company experience in selected market203050
56Competitive tendering system in selected market503020

CSFs indicators for the success of ICPs identified from relevant literature

CSF indicatorsAuthor(s)
Project-related factors
1Project size and valueBelassi and Tukel 1996; Chan et al. 2004; Fortune and White 2006; Arain and Asif 2010; Khan and Spang 2011; Gudienė et al. 2014, Inayat et al. 2015; Alashwal et al. 2017; Shen et al. 2017; Mavi and Standing 2018; Mathar et al. 2020
2Project characteristics/Uniqueness of project activitiesBelassi and Tukel 1996; Chen et al. 2012, Gudienė et al. 2014
3Constructability/ComplexitySaqib et al. 2008; Arain and Asif 2010; Yong and Mustaffa 2013, Gudienė et al. 2014; Mavi and Standing 2018; Mathar et al. 2020
4Site managementArain and Asif 2010; Yong and Mustaffa 2013; Ghanbaripour et al. 2020, Mathar et al. 2020
5Accurate initial cost estimatesNguyen et al. 2004; Arain and Asif 2010
6Formal dispute resolution processSaqib et al. 2008; Arain and Asif 2010; Pal et al. 2017; Mathar et al. 2020
7Adequate funding throughout the projectNguyen et al. 2004; Fortune and White 2006; Arain and Asif 2010; Yong and Mustaffa 2013; Gudienė et al. 2014; Li et al. 2019; Ghanbaripour et al. 2020
8Effective project planning and controlChan et al. 2004; Nguyen et al. 2004; Saqib et al. 2008; Fortune and White 2006; Toor and Ogunlana 2009; Arain and Asif 2010; Gudienė et al. 2014, Mavi and Standing 2018; Li et al. 2019
9IT support for project managementPandit and Zhu 2007; Toor and Ogunlana 2009; Mathar et al. 2020
10Language barriersBelassi and Tukel 1996
11Appropriate project identificationQiao et al. 2001
12Effective project managementBelassi and Tukel 1996
13Completion of the project on timeBelassi and Tukel 1996
14Quality of the workBelassi and Tukel 1996
15Innovative technical approachesBelassi and Tukel 1996; Khan and Spang 2011; Gudienė et al. 2014; Shen et al. 2017; Li et al. 2019
Human-related factors
16Organizing skills of project managerSaqib et al. 2008; Gudienė et al. 2014; Alashwal et al. 2017
17Coordinating ability of project managerBelassi and Tukel 1996; Chan et al. 2004; Saqib et al. 2008; Gudienė et al. 2014
18Project manager's competencyBelassi and Tukel 1996; Chan et al. 2004; Nguyen et al. 2004; Fortune and White 2006; Saqib et al. 2008; Khan and Spang 2011; Yong and Mustaffa 2013; Gudienė et al. 2014; Bayiley and Teklu 2016; Alashwal et al. 2017; Banihashemi et al. 2017; Shen et al. 2017; Mavi and Standing 2018; Li et al. 2019; Ghanbaripour et al. 2020; Mathar et al. 2020
19Communication skills of project managerArslan and Kivrak 2008; Gudienė et al. 2014
20Project manager's experienceOgunlana et al. 2002; Fortune and White 2006; Pheng and Chuan 2006; Saqib et al. 2008; Gudienė et al. 2014
21Education level of the project managerArslan and Kivrak 2008
22Political connections of the project managerArslan and Kivrak 2008
23Decision-making ability of project managerSaqib et al. 2008
24Leadership skills of project managerArslan and Kivrak 2008; Saqib et al. 2008; Yong and Mustaffa 2013; Gudienė et al. 2014
25Motivating skills of project managerChan et al. 2004; Saqib et al. 2008; Gudienė et al. 2014
26Project manager's adaptability to changes in the project planSaqib et al. 2008; Yong and Mustaffa 2013; Gudienė et al. 2014; Banihashemi et al. 2017
27Project manager's ability for risk identificationGudienė et al. 2014; Banihashemi et al. 2017
28Technical background of project team membersBelassi and Tukel 1996; Gudienė et al. 2014; Alashwal et al. 2017; Mathar et al. 2020
29Communication skills of project team membersBelassi and Tukel 1996; Ofori 2003; Gudienė et al. 2014; Alashwal et al. 2017; Shen et al. 2017
30CommitmentBelassi and Tukel 1996; Arain and Asif 2010; Khan and Spang 2011; Alashwal et al. 2017; Mavi and Standing 2018; Mathar et al. 2020
31Troubleshooting skills of project team members (problem-solving)Belassi and Tukel 1996; Saqib et al. 2008; Gudienė et al. 2014; Liu et al. 2016; Alashwal et al. 2017; Pal et al. 2017
32Effective relationship among project team membersArslan and Kivrak 2008; Liu et al. 2016; Banihashemi et al. 2017
33Multidisciplinary teamQiao et al. 2001; Nguyen et al. 2004; Ghanbaripour et al. 2020
34Multinational teamQiao et al. 2001
Organizational factors
35Top management supportBelassi and Tukel 1996; Cooke-Davies 2002; Ofori 2003; Nguyen et al. 2004; Toor and Ogunlana 2009; Khan and Spang 2011; Yong and Mustaffa 2013; Liu et al. 2016; Alashwal et al. 2017; Mavi and Standing 2018; Li et al. 2019; Ghanbaripour et al. 2020
36Organizational structureBelassi and Tukel 1996; Fortune and White 2006; Saqib et al. 2008; Khan and Spang 2011; Banihashemi et al. 2017; Mavi and Standing 2018
37Functional managers supportBelassi and Tukel 1996
38Company's flexibilityArain and Asif 2010
39Good business/government relationshipsQiao et al. 2001; Arain and Asif 2010
40Comprehensive contract documentationNguyen et al. 2004; Arain and Asif 2010; Yong and Mustaffa 2013; Banihashemi et al. 2017; Ahmadabadi and Heravi 2019
41Quality controlQiao et al. 2001; Saqib et al. 2008; Arain and Asif 2010; Mathar et al. 2020
42Effective project monitoring and controlKwak 2002; Ofori 2003; Arslan and Kivrak 2008; Arain and Asif 2010; Khan and Spang 2011; Mavi and Standing 2018; Mathar et al. 2020
43Clear goals and objectivesOfori 2003; Nguyen et al. 2004; Fortune and White 2006; Arain and Asif 2010; Mavi and Standing 2018; Li et al. 2019; Mathar et al. 2020
44Control of cash-flowArslan and Kivrak 2008; Mathar et al. 2020
45Strong financing capacityArslan and Kivrak 2008; Alashwal et al. 2017; Ghanbaripour et al. 2020
46Effective organizing and planningNguyen et al. 2004; Arslan and Kivrak 2008; Arain and Asif 2010; Banihashemi et al. 2017; Mathar et al. 2020
47Risk managementArslan and Kivrak 2008; Saqib et al. 2008; Khan and Spang 2011; Mavi and Standing 2018; Li et al. 2019; Mathar et al. 2020
48Follow and adopt new technologiesOfori 2003; Arslan and Kivrak 2008; Chen et al. 2012
49Skillful workersArslan and Kivrak 2008; Yong and Mustaffa 2013; Alashwal et al. 2017
50Cost managementOfori 2003; Arslan and Kivrak 2008; Yong and Mustaffa 2013
External factors
51Economic and politic environmentBelassi and Tukel 1996; Qiao et al. 2001; Kwak 2002; Chan et al. 2004; Saqib et al. 2008; Khan and Spang 2011; Yong and Mustaffa 2013; Alashwal et al. 2017; Banihashemi et al. 2017; Shen et al. 2017; Mavi and Standing 2018; Razzaq et al. 2018; Ahmadabadi and Heravi 2019
52Financial environmentQiao et al. 2001; Alashwal et al. 2017; Mavi and Standing 2018; Ahmadabadi and Heravi 2019
53Regularity of construction market and legislationQiao et al. 2001; Kwak 2002; Bayiley and Teklu 2016; Mavi and Standing 2018; Razzaq et al. 2018
54Level of competitionBelassi and Tukel 1996; Arslan and Kivrak 2008; Yong and Mustaffa 2013
55Company experience in selected marketArslan and Kivrak 2008; Yong and Mustaffa 2013; Surlan et al. 2016; Mathar et al. 2020
56Competitive tendering system in selected marketQiao et al. 2001; Chen et al. 2012; Yong and Mustaffa 2013
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/otmcj-2021-0030 | Journal eISSN: 1847-6228 | Journal ISSN: 1847-5450
Language: English
Page range: 2505 - 2520
Submitted on: May 14, 2021
Accepted on: Sep 30, 2021
Published on: Nov 7, 2021
Published by: University of Zagreb
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

© 2021 Lana Lovrenčić Butković, published by University of Zagreb
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.