Project-focussed literature on public-private partnership (PPP) in developing countries: a critical review

Abstract

Set within the context of developing countries, we conduct a state of the art systematic review of project-focussed, public-private partnership literature published between 1997 and 2021. The outcome of this review provides critical insight into trends in publication volume over time, types of projects addressed, chosen research methods, major research themes identified and their variances, but also identifies the critical challenges facing PPP projects in developing countries. More specifically, we find that for PPP projects in developing countries, the three most commonly reported challenges were ‘Appropriate risk allocation and risk-sharing’, ‘Political support’, and ‘The private sector’s financial strength’. We also find that in developing countries, factors such as ‘Compatibility and complementary skills among key parties’, ‘Competitive procurement process’, ‘Democracy’, ‘Efficient approval processes’, ‘Favourable legal framework’, and ‘Transparent and efficient procurement’ are contingent problems associated with the use of PPP in construction project delivery. The main contribution of this study resides in the detailed identification, evaluation and classification of the literature. This taxonomy provides a detailed overview and evaluation of existing literature; providing for more comprehensive appreciation of PPP.

Keywords:

• Public-private partnership
• project management
• construction projects
• challenges
• systematic literature review

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ahmad Meile Almeile

Ahmad Meaili Almeile is Manager of Doyof Al Rahman Program Initiatives at the Ministry of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He holds a PhD in Project Management, (from the University of Southampton), an MSc in the same field (from the University of Portsmouth) and a BSc in Architecture and Building Science (from King Saud University). He is also qualified as a Professional Architectural Engineer by the Saudi Council of Engineers. He has over 20 years of experience managing governmental projects. His main area of expertise focuses on reducing risks and expanding the successful use of projects, especially PPP projects.

Maxwell Chipulu

Max Chipulu is Professor of Operations Analytics at Edinburgh Napier University, United Kingdom. Previously, he was a mechanical engineer, working in production. He earned his PhD in Management Sciences and Statistics, MSc in Management Sciences and BEng in Mechanical Engineering from University of Southampton, UK. Max is an interdisciplinary researcher. He mainly researches the use of analytics in complex and/or uncertain operations management environments particularly projects. But he is also interested in methodology of text analytics, how culture influences organisations, ethicality and sustainability and the pedagogy of quantitative subjects in Business School settings. He has published articles in reputable international journals such as IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Journal of Business Ethics, International Journal of Forecasting, Production Planning & Control, Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, International Review of Financial Analysis, Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, and the International Journal of Project Management, etc.

Udechukwu Ojiako

Udechukwu (Udi) Ojiako is Professor of Engineering Management at the University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates and Barrister-at-Law (Honourable Society of the Middle Temple). Udi currently serves as an Associate Editor of Production Planning & Control. He holds a PhD in Project Management (from the University of Northumbria) and a PhD in Business (from University of Hull). He has also recently completed a third PhD in Law, from Aberystwyth University. Udi has published articles in journal outlets such as ASCE Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction, ASCE Journal of Management in Engineering, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Production Planning & Control, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Journal of Business Ethics, International Journal of Forecasting and the International Journal of Project Management, etc.

Ramesh Vahidi

Ramesh Vahidi is the designer and the Programme Leader for the MSc in Project Management (PM) at Southampton Business School. She studied Industrial Engineering (BEng & MEng) and (International) Project Management (MSc & PhD) in Iran, Sweden and the UK. Before joining the academia, Ramesh had senior analyst, consultant and project manager roles in national projects/programmes in major industries. She has delivered keynote and controversial speeches and widely presented at international conferences on collaboration between OR & PM, Responsible PM education, Critical Decision and Trade-offs in Projects, Ethical and Responsible Project Leadership, etc. She has written book/handbook chapters on Ethics and Responsible Leadership in PM and Ethical Research Questions in Responsible PM. She is an Ambassador for Responsible Project Management and worked with PM professional bodies as committee member, CDP trainer, judge, and panel member.

Alasdair Marshall

Alasdair Marshall is currently Associate Professor in Risk Management at Southampton Business School where he joined as a Lecturer in Risk Management in September 2008. Both his MA (Hons) degree and PhD are in Social Science, from the University of Glasgow. Alasdair is particularly interested in interdisciplinary organisation studies perspectives on risk research that bring together issues of strategy, leadership, culture, politics and decision-making. He has published articles in reputable international journals such as Journal of Risk Research, Journal of Business Ethics, International Journal of Forecasting, Production Planning & Control, Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, and the International Journal of Project Management, etc.