Benchmarking the performance of design‐build projects: Development of project success index

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to develop a project success index (PSI) to benchmark the performance of design‐build projects from a number of key performance indicators (KPIs).

Design/methodology/approach

This research collected 92 responses from Design and Build (D&B) project participants of the Hong Kong construction industry via ordinary postal mail. In addition, a project success equation is formulated from the principal components analysis.

Findings

D&B project participants suggests that time, cost, quality and functionality should be the principal success criteria for D&B projects. A single index can also be computed from the project success equation to apply different weightings to the respective KPI with different significance.

Practical implications

The concept of success remains vague among project participants, which makes it difficult to assess whether the performance of a project is a success or failure. The development of PSI can quantify the success concept in a scientific manner.

Originality/value

PSI indicates the success level of a construction project for benchmarking purposes. It also enables project stakeholders to measure the success of a D&B project and to compare the relative success level among different D&B projects in a scientific manner.

Citation

Lam, E.W.M., Chan, A.P.C. and Chan, D.W.M. (2007), "Benchmarking the performance of design‐build projects: Development of project success index", Benchmarking: An International Journal, Vol. 14 No. 5, pp. 624-638. https://doi.org/10.1108/14635770710819290