The study presents analytical data-based multi-criteria approach of critical success factors of infrastructure construction projects analyzed in the Ethiopian construction industry. This multi-criteria technique helps to improve the decision capabilities and ultimate performance of construction processes in various low-income countries of the East African region. The aim of this paper is to establish a logical relationship and interdependencies of success-related factors for enhancing decision making for various project teams and identify priorities while taking into account all known construction organizational constraints. A structured hierarchical matrix was developed based on a pre-identified success-related factors, and initially evaluated by experienced professionals as part of a content validation of the survey. Different professionals working in various construction organizations in Ethiopia were invited to participate in the questionnaire survey. All the required data analysis, including sensitivity performance, was conducted through Expert Choice© 11. Further, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance was conducted to examine and compare multiple expert responses. Based on the findings, the top success-related factors that affect decision making in construction projects are Adequate Goals/Objectives, Consultant’s Competency, Prior Experience of Consulting Firms, Consulting Firm’s Willingness and Cooperation, and Financial Standing of Contractor. The results are based on their global priority weights in the hierarchical model. The findings highlighted that there is disagreement between the major stakeholders involved in the construction process. The contribution of the study is introducing a bench-marking multi-criteria decision analysis technique to enhance decision making in the Ethiopian infrastructure sector.

Today, several developing countries struggle to improve the cost and time performances of major infrastructure works due to various reasons. Cost overrun and delay are one of the major challenges being faced by the construction and infrastructure sector. Hence, the aim of this study is to explore the extent of cost overrun and schedule delays in building and road infrastructure projects across the Ethiopian construction industry. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire survey to evaluate the potential risks leading to those challenges. Various data analysis tools were employed, to investigate the critical causes of cost overrun and delays in infrastructure projects. The findings reveal that the minimum cost overrun for building construction projects is found to be 2%, whereas the maximum and average cost overruns are 248% and 35%, respectively. For road infrastructure projects, the minimum, maximum, and average cost overruns are found to be 1%, 61%, and 18%, respectively. Similarly, the minimum, maximum, and average delays recorded in building construction projects are 9%, 802%, and 143%, respectively, whereas, in road infrastructure projects, the minimum delay is found to be 3%, the maximum delay is 312%, and an average schedule delay of 110% is recorded. In addition, the top risk factors leading to cost overrun in infrastructure projects are inflation, inaccurate cost estimates, and variations, whereas the major risks causing schedule delays are variations, economic conditions, and escalation of material prices. Further, practical implications and key recommendations were provided to curb cost overrun and delay in infrastructure projects.

Recently, the popularity of BIM has grown rapidly in the public construction sector. However, only a few studies so far have been seeking to address the BIM adoption benefits and barriers in developmental public projects across the low-income countries. Thus, the study aims to investigate the benefits and barriers of BIM adoption in the context of the Ethiopian infrastructure market. To achieve the objectives, a comprehensive systematic literature review was conducted to identify BIM adoption benefits and barriers in developing countries. Then, a structured questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data from various professionals working in organizations including client, consultant, and contractor. The results indicate that Insufficient IT Infrastructure, Poor Government Help, and Lack of BIM Researches & Courses in Universities are the top ranked BIM adoption barriers in infrastructure projects. Whereas, Improved Communication Among Parties, Early Multidisciplinary Coordination, and 3D visualization perceived as the major benefits of BIM adoption in the Ethiopian context. The findings provide empirical evidences to professionals, business CEOs and policy makers for the development of future BIM adoption policy in the Ethiopian construction sector. Further, insightful recommendations were forwarded to enhance the current BIM uptake in various construction projects.

Literature highlights that the success of construction projects differs in various attributes. However, only a few empirical studies have been conducted to examine the inter-sectorial aspects of critical success factors in developing countries. Hence, this study aims to investigate the comparative analysis of success factors in public and private sectors across the Ethiopian construction industry. A structured questionnaire matrix was prepared based on the hierarchical model developed through a systematic literature review. Then, the present study introduced a Delphi–Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique to analyze successful attributes in the Ethiopian construction sector. The two rounds of Delphi–AHP survey were conducted through a panel of experts working in different construction firms including owner, consultant, contractor, and academia. The result indicates that the top three ranked critical success factors (CSFs) in the private sector are clear project goals, financial capacity of contractor, and competency of consulting firm. However, CSFs such as adequacy of funds, political environment, and clear project goals are the major CSFs in public construction sector. More so, the findings reveal that there was a consensus among respondents on the rankings of success factors. The study provides practical implications and key recommendations regarding CSFs to enhance project management performance in the Ethiopian construction sector.

The aim of this paper is to explore the critical BIM adoption drivers across the Ethiopian public infrastructure construction sector. In this regard, a comprehensive systematic literature review was employed to identify potential BIM implementation attributes in developing countries and validated through a pilot test. Then, quantitative data was collected from experts working in various organizations using a structured questionnaire survey. A structural equation model was then developed based on five key BIM adoption constructs and 14 adoption drivers. Based on the path analysis, Application, Environment, and Project related factors positively affect BIM adoption in infrastructure projects, whereas Organization and Information Management are insignificant and negatively affect BIM adoption in the Ethiopian construction industry. The study highlighted key BIM adoption attributes that are helpful to enhance the overall project management performance in infrastructure projects. The proposed action plan is beneficial to various professionals, government, and stakeholders in an effort to improve the current level of BIM uptake in the horn of Africa. More so, the findings of this paper can be used to facilitate and promote BIM adoption in public infrastructure construction projects across the Ethiopian construction market.

In recent years, the integration of new technology‐aided processes and methods, such as BIM in complex infrastructure projects, is becoming popular in the construction sector. Despite the growing popularity of BIM in the built environment, there is still a dearth of studies that focus on the intersectorial comparison of BIM adoption drivers in construction projects. Thus, the study aims to examine the project‐specific BIM adoption drivers across the public and private construction sectors. Initially, a hypothetical BIM adoption model was developed based on a systematic literature review and desk study. Then, a structured questionnaire survey was employed to collect data from experts working across the Ethiopian construction industry. The empirical data were analyzed using a structural equation modeling and validated through confirmatory factor analysis. The result reveals that Relative Advantage, Financial Competency, Top Management Support, and Customer Pressure are common BIM adoption drivers amongst the public and private construction sectors. Similarly, a few distinct drivers were identified within both sectors. These include Government Pressure and Social/Cultural Factors in public, whereas Competitor Pressure and Communication Behavior in the private construction sector. The paper provides key intersectorial BIM adoption drivers within different adoption stages to reinforce the effort across the public and private construction projects. In addition, practical implications and key recommendations were forwarded to enhance the current BIM uptake in the Ethiopian construction sector.