Construction productivity (CP) is a critical measure of efficiency and effectiveness in the building construction sector, influenced by various factors that impact project performance. Despite its significance, the sector faces persistent challenges in understanding, addressing and improving productivity. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of CP, its key aspects and the different phases of construction, while also identifying influencing factors and proposing a structured conceptual framework to enhance CP.
A systematic literature review was conducted following the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses” (PRISMA) framework to identify and analyze relevant studies from the Scopus database. The review includes 85 articles published between 2010 and 2024, critically analyzing the key dimensions of CP, including tools and techniques for improvement, challenges and existing frameworks. This study aims to provide a deeper insight into the factors influencing CP and to develop an effective framework for its enhancement.
The findings of this study explore that the publication activity increased markedly, peaking in 2018 and 2020, and was concentrated in leading construction management journals. Across the 85 studies, management/planning and labor/workforce factors recur throughout the lifecycle, while materials/equipment logistics and safety–quality controls are dominant during construction and handover. Existing frameworks largely target single-factor or partial multi-factor productivity and are seldom validated; few provide a lifecycle-wide total factor productivity (TFP) structure linking drivers, interventions and outcomes. A lifecycle–TFP conceptual framework is proposed to connect phase-specific drivers, enabling technologies and productivity outcomes (economic, satisfaction and environmental).
This study serves as a valuable knowledge resource for researchers by analyzing key aspects of CP, facilitating further exploration and development in this domain. Additionally, it provides practical insights for construction managers, planners, stakeholders and decision-makers by offering a structured framework to improve productivity in real-world construction projects.
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to offer a holistic understanding of CP across different construction phases, identifying key influencing factors and challenges. This study uniquely contributes by proposing a conceptual framework that integrates TFP, providing a novel approach to improving CP.
