Assessment of Critical Project Success Factors for Management of Pavement Construction Using the Delphi Approach

Abstract

Construction project management is typically adopted in modern civil landscapes. Owing to the significant global increase in infrastructure investments, it is crucial to analyze the success and timely completion of such public projects, among which the pavement construction project is a representative example. The aim of this study is to identify the critical success factors (CSFs) that enable the success of pavement construction. Additionally, a CSF framework is developed in this study that can be used by project management teams to monitor and control the progress of pavement construction projects effectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that acquires all pavement management-related factors to develop a framework. To ensure that all pavement management-related factors were identified and considered, the authors of this study conducted an exhaustive preliminary literature review until 2022. Based on an extensive literature review, 61 multidisciplinary factors are developed and validated in a Delphi study. A questionnaire is developed, and pilot tested through interviews. A total of 27 experts were recruited to participate in two rounds of the Delphi study, which included factors related to operations, contractor expertise, logistics, human resources, communication, finances, and bureaucracy. Reliability tests, correlations, and validations are performed, and weighted averages are obtained. The reliability and accuracy of the factors are successfully defined and tested. The findings of the study suggest focusing on the following functional areas to complete a pavement construction project successfully: (1) financial factors; (2) bureaucracy- and governance-related factors; and (3) communication-related factors. According to the experts interviewed in the Delphi study, these factors contribute the most significantly to the success of the project.