Evaluation of the critical success factors (CSFs) in selecting building contractors using pareto analysis and the analytical hierarchy process

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to obtain a set of critical success factors (CSFs) for selecting building contractors in Qatar to help investors effectively and efficiently build their houses. First, a systematic review of the previous research was carried out to capture the 20 most frequently occurring CSFs for constructing houses. Then, a survey was distributed to 280 investors to determine their perceptions of the importance of CSFs. The survey was evaluated using Pareto analysis and the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to determine which CSFs are most relevant to investors when building houses. The contribution of this study to the current knowledge is studying the investor’s behavior by considering frequency, cost, and time components simultaneously to capture the most significant Critical Success Factors (CSFs) in selecting building contractors. The strategy developed by this study provides a ready set of criteria that can be used by investors and local authorities in qualifying building contractors.