Critical success factors in the management of petrochemical construction projects for contractors and subcontractors during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

This research identifies the critical factors of multinational enterprises affecting the successful performance of contractors and sub-contractors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these critical success factors, labour availability, site accessibility, shortage of construction resources, and inadequate epidemic prevention in construction planning caused by the lockdown policy were the most fundamental successes encountered in construction projects. The present study focuses on Thailand's construction industry with the aim of identifying critical success factors and finding the cause-and-effect relationship among these essential success factors. To understand these interdependent relationships, this study distinguishes between ‘driving’ and ‘dependent’ critical success factors. Mixed-methods were applied to investigate the mutual relationships that exist between these critical success factors. The results show that the critical factors driving contractors’ successful performance are related to 18 critical factors that must be considered during construction management. Interpretive Structural Modelling found that the success factors during the COVID-19 pandemic were effectiveness management, e.g. profitability and client satisfaction. However, important performance drivers of contractor success that are compatible with MICMAC strategic analysis and the construction action plan, and participation of contractors by increasing knowledge on construction management and internal monitoring, are crucial success drivers for contractors and sub-contractors.

Keywords:

• Critical success factor
• contractor success
• petrochemical construction project
• multinational enterprise
• interpretive structural modelling
• Thai construction

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to the participants of the 3rd International Conference on Applied Liberal Arts: ICAA2020 for their comments on an earlier version of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.