A mixed-methods study of the critical success factors in the development of assembled buildings in steel structure projects in China

Prefabricated construction has been widely adopted in China because of its potential benefits, such as energy conservation, efficiency, and environmental protection. However, few studies have investigated the application of assembled buildings with the steel structure (ABSS) method, which is one approach to prefabricated construction. In order to promote the application of ABSS, this research explores the critical success factors for its uptake using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Five focus group meetings were carried out to explore the opinions of professionals about critical success factors of ABSS projects in China. A questionnaire survey was conducted to identify the critical success factors for the implementation of ABSS projects. The results identified six critical success factors for the development of ABSS: market, organization, government, project, professional, and social factors. The importance of each was also ranked. The results indicate that the government factor is the most important influence on the use of the ABSS method, while the social factor is the least important. In order to promote the application of the ABSS method in China, suggestions are given, including the development of specific policies to support the use of the ABSS method in real estate projects, the creation of design standards, and cooperation with local universities. This paper contributes to filling the research gap by investigating the application of the ABSS method in China and identifying critical success factors of the ABSS method. The findings provide a valuable reference for both policymakers and practitioners seeking to promote the use of the ABSS method in the construction industry.