Navigating retail construction projects in Türkiye: Critical enablers and barriers

Purpose – Retail construction projects operate under fast-track, brand-sensitive, and operationally constrained conditions that are not fully captured by traditional construction management frameworks. This study identifies and evaluates the critical enablers and barriers influencing project success and addresses the lack of integrated approaches linking these factors. Design/methodology/approach – Empirical data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 82 professionals across retail, design, and construction domains. A total of 17 enablers and 13 barriers were assessed using a five-point Likert scale and analyzed through descriptive statistics and ANOVA. The factors were grouped into three domains: Strategic and Organizational, Human Capital and Collaboration, and Operational Integration and Innovation. Findings – Results reveal a clear symmetry between key enablers and corresponding barriers, indicating that underlying project capabilities can drive success or failure. Leadership competence and project planning emerged as the most critical enablers, while ineffective communication and coordination were the most significant barriers. Technical expertise, contractor performance, and supply chain efficiency strongly influence outcomes. An innovation-execution gap was also identified, with digital and continuous improvement practices remaining underutilized. Research limitations/implications – This study is limited by its cross-sectional, perception-based survey design and its focus on professionals primarily located in Turkey. Consequently, findings may not fully capture longitudinal trends or reflect conditions in regions with differing regulatory or economic environments. Future research could apply causal and comparative methods, including regression or structural equation modelling, to examine interdependencies among enablers and barriers. Expanding geographic coverage and incorporating objective project performance metrics would enhance generalizability. Longitudinal and qualitative investigations could further validate the dual enabler–barrier framework and explore how innovation and digitalization evolve throughout retail project lifecycles. Practical implications – The findings offer a clear roadmap for practitioners to improve retail construction performance. Strengthening leadership and strategic oversight ensures alignment with corporate goals, while early-stage planning and feasibility analysis reduce disruptions. Investing in technical skills, cross-functional collaboration, and communication enhances coordination and problem-solving. Operationally, reinforcing contractor performance, supply-chain efficiency, and standardized design practices promotes delivery speed and quality. Encouraging technology adoption, feedback mechanisms, and continuous improvement institutionalizes learning and resilience. These measures collectively enable firms to balance cost, time, and brand experience objectives, achieving faster rollouts and greater consistency across multi-site retail portfolios. Social implications – Improved retail construction practices contribute positively to society by supporting efficient urban development, sustainable resource use, and enhanced consumer environments. Effective leadership, collaboration, and innovation reduce waste, minimize disruption to communities during build phases, and improve safety and working conditions. Embedding sustainability principles and digital feedback loops fosters accountability and environmental responsibility within supply chains. As retail spaces remain key social and economic hubs, successful project delivery strengthens local employment, accessibility, and inclusivity. The sector's transition toward agile, technology-enabled construction thereby promotes social well-being through better-designed, resilient, and community-oriented built environments. Originality/value – The study advances Critical Success Factor (CSF) theory by introducing a dual-structure enabler–barrier framework that conceptualizes project perf rmance as the interaction between enabling and constraining factors. It provides a retail-specific perspective and a practical diagnostic tool to improve project delivery, customer experience, and innovation-driven outcomes.