Hailu, H and Tshehla, M (2025) A conceptual framework for enhancing subcontracting performance in the construction industry of developing countries. Journal of Construction Business and Management, 7(2), pp. 1-15.
Abstract
A significant portion of construction work is executed through subcontracting (SC), making a study on SC performance instrumental. The study aimed to develop a holistic conceptual framework to enhance SC performance for the construction industry of developing nations. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to examine the available scholarly literature from Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest databases. From the databases, 27 studies were screened for a detailed review. A thematic content analysis was conducted to explore different themes from the screened studies analysed using ATLAS.ti23 software. These themes then served as components to be intricately linked and build the framework. The framework encompasses SC strategy, business constraints, adoption of information technology, uncertainties, and capabilities impacting the four core activities of SC performance: bidding and selection of subcontractors, subcontract management, operations management, and monitoring and evaluation of subcontract works. Adopting the framework's principles will cause a push towards fairness, symmetric information and dependency, mutual trust, and continual improvement efforts along the SC value chain, resulting in the overall growth and competitiveness of the construction industry of developing countries.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | subcontracting performance; conceptual framework; systematic literature review |
| Index terms: | bidding, monitoring, fairness, conceptual framework, systematic literature review, information technology, construction industry, content analysis, developing country, competitiveness, strategy, construction work, science, developing nation, value chain, subcontract, database, operations management, subcontracting, subcontractor |
| Subjects: | computing systems, contract type, research evaluation and metrics, value chain strategy, development economics, market analysis, industry analysis, management, data management, operations management, theoretical framing, bidding, organization, practitioner, control systems, specialized education, leadership, data analysis and analytics |
| Topics: | International Construction, Business Strategy, Procurement, Organizational Design, Education, Research Practice, Project Management, Roles and Professions, Supply Chain Management, Digital Applications, Site Management, Contract Administration |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here