What is it about?
Construction projects are often evaluated based on time, cost, and quality. However, not all factors that are considered important actually drive project success. This study explores which factors truly influence sustainable construction projects in Türkiye. We analyzed expert opinions using two complementary methods. One identifies which factors are seen as important, while the other shows how these factors influence each other in practice. The results show that project performance is mainly driven by delivery-related factors such as time, cost, and technical capability. In contrast, aspects like sustainability, governance, and learning, although recognized as important, tend to depend on these core factors rather than shaping them directly. This means that improving sustainability in construction requires not only recognizing its importance but also strengthening the underlying project conditions that enable it. The findings can help decision-makers, engineers, and policymakers better understand where to focus their efforts to achieve more resilient and effective construction outcomes.
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Why is it important?
Sustainable construction is widely recognized as a priority, yet project teams often struggle to identify which factors truly drive successful outcomes. This study goes beyond traditional ranking approaches by examining not only which success factors are considered important, but also how they influence one another in practice. The findings reveal that the factors with the greatest influence are not always the ones perceived as most important. By identifying the key drivers of project performance, this research provides practical guidance for decision-makers, engineers, and policymakers seeking to improve the effectiveness, resilience, and sustainability of construction projects. The results can help organizations allocate resources more strategically and focus on interventions that create the greatest positive impact.
Perspectives
Sustainable construction is often discussed in terms of environmental goals and stakeholder expectations. However, our findings suggest that achieving these goals depends heavily on getting the fundamentals of project delivery right. What surprised us most was the difference between factors that experts ranked as important and those that actually influence the entire system. We hope this research encourages decision-makers to look beyond simple rankings and focus on the underlying relationships among success factors when planning and managing sustainable construction projects.
Sadık Varolüneş
Bingol Universitesi
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: From priority to influence: an AHP-DEMATEL analysis of critical success factors in sustainable construction projects in Türkiye, Engineering Construction & Architectural Management, September 2026, Emerald,
DOI: 10.1108/ecam-04-2026-0618.
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