نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی

نویسندگان

• محمد امین درستی ¹
• فرهاد سعیدی ²
• سعید یوسفی ³

¹ دانشجوی کارشناسی ارشد مدیریت پروژه و ساخت، گروه مدیریت پروژه، دانشکده معماری، پردیس بین المللی کیش، دانشگاه تهران، جزیره کیش، ایران

² استادیار، گروه مهندسی عمران، دانشکده عمران، هنر و معماری، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد علوم تحقیقات، تهران، ایران

³ استادیار، گروه مدیریت پروژه، دانشکده معماری، دانشگاه تهران، تهران، ایران

چکیده

پیمانکاران شایسته به عنوان رکن اصلی پروژه های ساخت پایدار و بازوی فنی پیشبرد اجرایی پروژه ها نقش بسزایی در تحقق اهداف توسعه پایدار (اقتصادی، اجتماعی و زیست محیطی) ایفا میکنند. ارزیابی شایستگی و گزینش پیمانکار اصلح از جمله دغدغه های شرکتهای کارفرمایی در برونسپاری عملیات اجرایی این قبیل از پروژه ها محسوب میشود. مدیران و سیاستگذاران شرکتها برای ارزیابی پیمانکاران واجد شرایط نیازمند معیارهایی هستند. پژوهش حاضر با هدف شناسایی معیارهای شایستگی و انتخاب پیمانکاران در پروژههای ساخت پایدار از منظر شرکت‌های کارفرمایی انجام گرفته است. این پژوهش از نظر هدف، کاربردی و از حیث نوع داده، در زمره پژوهشهای کیفی قرار دارد. قلمرو مکانی این پژوهش جزیره کیش بوده و جامعه خبرگی این مطالعه را مدیران پروژه و صاحب نظران شرکتهای کارفرمایی فعال در صنعت ساخت این جزیره تشکیل دادند که نمونهگیری از آنها به شیوه غیرتصادفی هدفمند انجام گرفت. ضمن نظرسنجی از خبرگان با انجام مصاحبه های نیمه ساختاریافته، فرآیند تحلیل محتوای مصاحبهها با استفاده از کدگذاری به شیوه تحلیل مضمون مطابق با الگوی شش مرحله ای Braun و Clarke (2006) با رویکرد استقرایی انجام پذیرفت. با تحلیل محتوای 12 مصاحبه، در مجموع 73 کد با فرآوانی 979 تکرار در 12 مضمون فرعی و 3 مضمون اصلی احصاء شد. نتایج پژوهش نشان داد که برخلاف رویکردهای سنتی ارزیابی شایستگی و گزینش پیمانکار اصلح در جلسات مناقصه، انجام این فرآیند در پروژه های ساخت پایدار مستلزم نگرش جامع تصمیمگیرندگان شرکتهای کارفرمایی و توجه توأمان آنها به 12 معیار کلیدی مستتر در سه بُعد اقتصادی، اجتماعی و زیست محیطی است.

کلیدواژه‌ها

• صنعت ساخت
• توسعه پایدار
• معیارهای شایستگی پیمانکار
• پروژه های ساخت پایدار
• تحلیل مضمون

موضوعات

• مدیریت پروژه

عنوان مقاله [English]

Identifying Contractors’ Competency Criteria in Construction Projects on Kish Island from a Sustainable Development Perspective: A Thematic Analysis

نویسندگان [English]

• Mohammad Amin Dorosti ¹
• Farhad Saiedi ²
• Saied Yousefi ³

¹ MSc. Student in Project and Construction Management, Department of Project Management, Faculty of Architecture, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Kish Island, Iran

² Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Civil, Art, and Architecture, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

³ Assistant Professor, Department of Project Management, Faculty of Architecture, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

چکیده [English]

Abstract
Qualified contractors are the main pillar of sustainable construction projects and the technical arm of project implementation, playing a significant role in achieving sustainable development (economic, social, and environmental) goals. Evaluating competence and selecting the best contractor are among the concerns of employer companies when outsourcing the implementation of such projects. In this regard, company managers and policymakers need criteria to evaluate qualified contractors. The current study aims to identify the evaluation criteria for competence and to select contractors for sustainable construction projects from the perspective of employer companies. This study is applied in terms of purpose and qualitative in terms of data type. In this study, the construction industry in Kish Island is examined, and an expert panel comprising project managers and experts from employer companies is formed, and sampling was carried out non-randomly and purposefully. After surveying 12 experts through semi-structured interviews, the content of the interviews was coded and analyzed using the thematic analysis approach based on the six-step model of Braun and Clarke (2006) with an inductive approach. A total of 73 codes with a frequency of 979 repetitions were counted in 12 sub-themes and 3 main themes. The results showed that, unlike traditional approaches to evaluating candidate contractors in tender meetings, carrying out this process in sustainable construction projects requires a comprehensive approach by the decision-makers of the employer companies and their simultaneous attention to 12 key criteria that are categorized into three economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
Introduction
The construction industry plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life and supporting national growth, yet it is also among the largest contributors to environmental degradation through high greenhouse gas emissions and waste generation. Consequently, the transition toward sustainable construction practices has become imperative to mitigate negative environmental impacts. Sustainable construction emphasizes the use of recyclable materials, energy efficiency, waste minimization, and environmental protection, while also attracting increasing attention from governments, scholars, and leading companies as a strategic business priority. In Iran, and particularly in Kish Island, adopting modern construction methods, engaging qualified professionals, leveraging advanced technologies, and reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies have become critical concerns for stakeholders. Within this context, the selection of competent contractors is pivotal, as their capabilities directly influence project outcomes in terms of quality, cost, and timely delivery. However, existing evaluation processes in the country have predominantly focused on traditional economic indicators, neglecting social and environmental dimensions of sustainability. International studies highlight that the absence of comprehensive criteria for contractor assessment often leads to cost overruns, delays, and reduced quality. Therefore, conducting a field-based study to explore and define the dimensions and criteria of contractor competence in sustainable construction projects on Kish Island addresses a critical research gap.
Research Background
The selection of competent contractors is a critical factor in the success of construction projects and has been examined from multiple perspectives in the literature. The concept of “organizational competence” in project management refers to an organization’s ability to integrate resources, processes, and culture in alignment with its mission and strategy, which plays a pivotal role in achieving sustainable development goals. Recent international studies have highlighted that contractors are crucial in attaining sustainability objectives and mitigating environmental and social risks, making transparent and multi-criteria evaluation essential. To this end, numerous studies have considered technical, financial, managerial, safety, past performance, and bid price criteria; however, reliance solely on the “lowest bid” remains a significant weakness in tendering systems. Domestic research indicates that, although ranking systems and prequalification assessments partially improve contractor selection, sustainability criteria are still largely neglected. Evidence from international studies in Egypt, India, Jordan, and China underscores the necessity of integrating environmental, social, and economic indicators alongside traditional criteria, whereas in Iran, final selection often remains price-driven. This gap motivates the present study to identify and comprehensively analyze the competency criteria for contractors in sustainable construction projects on Kish Island, aiming to provide a localized framework that enhances the competitiveness of domestic construction firms and facilitates their entry into international markets.
Method
The present study is applied in nature, qualitative in terms of data type and analytical approach, and falls within the descriptive-survey category regarding data collection. The content analysis of the interviews was conducted using an inductive thematic coding approach. The analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-step framework, including familiarization with the data, generation of initial codes, theme extraction, review of sub-themes, definition and naming of main themes, and reporting. The study population consisted of 12 project managers and experts from client companies active in the construction industry on Kish Island, purposefully selected through non-probabilistic sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between winter 2023 and summer 2024. Data validity was ensured through systematic data recording, increasing participant diversity, iterative data review, and oversight by external experts and faculty members.
Results and Discussion
Through open coding and content analysis of 12 interviews with experts, a total of 73 codes with 979 occurrences were identified, organized into 12 sub-themes and 3 main themes. The findings showed that the most important criteria for contractor competence and selection in these types of projects are structured around three primary categories, including economic, social, and environmental, which constitute the main themes and serve as the foundational pillars of sustainable development. The findings indicate that a comprehensive evaluation of these three dimensions facilitates the selection of competent contractors, reduces operational risks, enhances construction quality, and increases transparency and accountability. From an operational perspective, sustainability competency criteria contribute to the optimization of costs and resources, improvement of operational efficiency, utilization of standard equipment, and reduction of material wastage. Moreover, selecting contractors in accordance with these criteria ensures the implementation of sustainable construction projects, taking into account the specific geographical and environmental conditions of Kish Island, while fulfilling sustainability requirements such as carbon footprint reduction and ecosystem preservation. Overall, the integration of economic, social, and environmental dimensions provides a practical and actionable framework for project managers’ decision-making, enhancing the competitiveness of construction companies and promoting the sustainable performance of projects.
Conclusison
Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that contractors who demonstrate strong performance across the twelve identified criteria in the economic, social, and environmental dimensions have a greater capacity to achieve the sustainable development objectives of construction projects. Design-build contracts further enhance this capacity by fostering team integration, efficient communication, and innovative solutions, and by selecting contractors based on maximum value rather than the lowest price. The economic evaluation of contractors should focus on financial credibility, resource management, and cost optimization while maintaining service quality. The social evaluation should encompass human resource management, social capital, professional ethics, and stakeholder engagement. The environmental evaluation should assess contractors’ capability and experience in implementing sustainable processes, waste and energy management, and environmental training. Complementary measures include the development of multidimensional evaluation systems, creation of a contractor performance database, and interdisciplinary assessments. The study’s limitations include difficulties in accessing experts and the restricted generalizability of the results beyond Kish Island. Future research could develop the current study by applying advanced quantitative methods under uncertainty and establishing mechanisms for continuous monitoring and performance evaluation of contractors.

کلیدواژه‌ها [English]

• Construction Industry
• Sustainable Development
• Contractor Competence Criteria
• Sustainable Construction Projects
• Thematic Analysis