Critical Success Factors for Sustainable Project Management in Green Building Projects in Yemen
Abstract
This study examines the critical success factors influencing sustainable project management and the success of green building projects in Yemen. It identifies and prioritises the most influential factors, assesses the principal implementation barriers, tests the relationships between the identified factors and multidimensional project success, and proposes a context-specific implementation framework. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was adopted using a structured bilingual questionnaire developed for construction-industry professionals. The final research dataset comprised 393 cases and was examined using descriptive statistics, the Relative Importance Index (RII), reliability and validity assessment, and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling. The measurement model demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity, with outer loadings ranging from .706 to .866, Cronbach’s alpha from .884 to .957, composite reliability from .913 to .961, and average variance extracted from .579 to .702. Discriminant validity and model fit were also established, with a maximum HTMT value of .589 and an SRMR value of .038. Client- and stakeholder-related factors received the highest overall importance ranking (RII = .917), while robust quality assurance and quality control emerged as the highest-ranked individual factor (RII = .953). High initial cost was identified as the most substantial barrier to green building implementation (RII = .951). The structural model explained 51.1% of the variance in project success. Project management-related factors were the strongest significant predictor (β = .326), followed by project-related factors (β = .265), client- and stakeholder-related factors (β = .223), and project team-related factors (β = .144). Organisational and institutional factors and external-environment factors did not demonstrate significant direct effects. Three contextual interaction effects were significant, indicating partial moderation. The study concludes that improving green building project success in Yemen requires integrated project management, early definition of sustainability requirements, stronger stakeholder commitment, enhanced professional capability, cost-sensitive procurement strategies, and progressive institutional support.