Over the past decade, the topic of KPIs in the construction industry
has been discussed. However, there are not many comprehensive
and systematic studies on relationship-based projects. This
study has tried to develop a model for measuring the performance
of relationship-based projects in the Australian construction industry
through the Delphi survey technique. The order of the
eight weighted KPIs identified were: 1 client’s satisfaction, with
the weighting of 0.151; 2 cost performance, with the weighting
of 0.131; 3 quality performance, with the weighting of 0.130;
4 time performance, with the weighting of 0.125; 5 effective
communications and safety performance, with the equal weightings
of 0.124; 7 trust and respect, with the weighting of 0.110;
and 8 innovation and improvement, with the weighting of 0.105.
This KPIs’ framework for relationship-based projects helps develop
a unique composite index and set a benchmark for measuring
the performance of relationship-based projects in Australia.
Different relationship-based projects can then be evaluated and
compared objectively based on this PI. As a result, construction
senior executives and project managers can use this index to measure,
monitor, and upgrade the current performance of their
relationship-based projects. It also enriches the knowledge of both
academics and practitioners in the construction industry about the
KPIs for relationship-based projects in pursuit of better project
management and performance. Since the model was developed
for Australia only, further research should be conducted in other
geographical locations to compare their similarities and differences
by adopting the same research method to facilitate international
comparisons.