Investigating and Determining Project Success Factors in Iraq: Advises for exporters of engineering services

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Note

Authors

1 Faculty of Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

2 School of Civil Eng, Iran University of Science and Technology

3 -

4 Department of Civil Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

Abstract

Project success in the construction industry refers to the achievement of predetermined goals for the project and the organization within specified time and cost constraints, along with the quality expected by the client. In this context, Iraq, as a developing country, faces numerous challenges regarding project failures. A more detailed examination of the reasons behind these issues could be beneficial for stakeholders in Iran's construction industry, especially since Iraq is currently one of Iran's largest trading partners. Understanding the factors contributing to the success of construction projects in Iraq can serve as a valuable guide for those involved in exporting technical services to this country. In this study, the factors influencing the success of construction projects in Iraq were identified through two sources: reputable scientific articles and interviews with 40 expert professionals. After prioritizing these factors, six final elements were identified, including the financial capability of the contracting company, support from senior management, utilization of consulting firms, evaluation and selection of the best contracting company, use of turnkey contracts, and coordination among various project sectors. Among these factors, three namely the financial capability of the contracting company, support from senior management, and evaluation and selection of the best company were presented quantitatively, while the other factors were presented qualitatively. In this research, school construction projects in Wasat province were selected as a case study, and 32 projects were analyzed to assess the impact of these six factors. Given that the projects had similar dimensions, construction methods, and costs, time delay was used as a key parameter to determine project success or failure. Based on this criterion, 17 projects were identified as successful and 15 as unsuccessful. Ultimately, a significant relationship was found among all identified success factors in these projects, and recommendations were provided for achieving success in similar projects.

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Sharif Journal of Civil Engineering

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 02 June 2025

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