OPTIMIZING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PERFORMANCE: DEVELOPING a TOPSIS-BASED FRAMEWORK to MINIMIZE CRITICAL FACTORS IN HOSSANA TOWN

Abstract

The majority of the construction industry involves various elements such as project planning, execution, monitoring, control, and closeout’ factors like budget, schedule, quality, safety risk management, stakeholder relations, environmental considerations, and legal compliance all play a critical role in determining the overall performance of a construction project. The performance has a major impact on the duties involved in successfully completing a construction project. The construction industry plays a vital role in the economic development of Hossana Town, Ethiopia, yet it faces significant challenges that impede project performance. The study was initiated to address the persistent issues of delayed project completion, cost overruns, and quality shortfalls that have plagued public building projects in the area. The primary aim of this research was to identify, evaluate, and prioritize the factors affecting construction project performance, and to develop a framework for improving these projects. The research adopted a mixed-method approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative data. A descriptive research design was employed, with data collected through structured questionnaires and interviews from a sample of 32 experts in the construction industry. The population included key stakeholders such as contractors, consultants, project owners, and government officials involved in public building projects. The data were analyzed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to weigh and prioritize the factors, followed by the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to rank these factors according to their impact on project performance. The results revealed that factors such as payment delays to subcontractors, weak construction methods, and inefficient procurement processes are the most critical in affecting project outcomes. The developed TOPSIS-based framework provides a structured approach for stakeholders to address these issues, offering practical strategies for improving project performance. The findings have significant implications for project management practices in Hossana Town, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in the identified areas. In conclusion, the study successfully developed a framework that stakeholders can use to enhance the performance of public building projects in Hossana Town. It is recommended that the framework be adopted and tested in real-world projects to validate its effectiveness and to refine it further based on practical applications.