Buildability in the construction industry: a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose Construction management researchers have acknowledged that the use of buildability could improve outcomes of project. Efficient use of resources required for the procurement of construction projects is important for the economy. This study aims to aggregate the current knowledge on buildability within the construction management domain into an understandable whole using the systematic review approach. Design/methodology/approach An interpretivist epistemological approach was used as a lens for the systematic review of published research on buildability. The selected articles cover the time period between 1987 and 2020. The articles published in 2021 and 2022 were excluded to ensure that the scope of the current study is distinct and clear. In this research, qualitative content analysis was used to scrutinise the selected journal papers. Findings Based on the analysis of literature, the trends and gaps in the current knowledge on the topic of interest were identified. It was found that stakeholder’s knowledge and commitment play a huge role in the extent of adoption of buildability as a practice in the construction sector. Also, the study confirms that the use of buildability is beneficial to the project and its stakeholders. Originality/value The study maps the current state of knowledge on buildability and provides information on the gaps that could be explored in the future by researchers.