Title: A strategic assessment of the twenty-tens barriers preventing the optimal implementation of lean management in the Lebanese construction industry

Authors: Mira Thoumy; Atef Harb; Claudette El-Hajj

Addresses: HEC Montreal, 3000 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road, Montréal (Quebec), H3T 2A7, Canada ' Department of Management and Marketing, Notre Dame University – Louaize, Lebanon ' Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Notre Dame University – Louaize, Lebanon

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to present the major barriers that hinder the implementation of lean construction management (LCM) through a systematic evaluation based on a literature review of numerous journal articles, followed by a statistical analysis of data from a survey of 244 observations and by interviews with professionals in the field. Despite their knowledge of the critical success factors, not all LCM adopters are successful in reaping the benefits of the implementation; in fact, several barriers have been minimising the chances of fully prosperous projects. For an effective integration of lean, companies should overcome the barriers faced during the implementation. A survey of Lebanese construction professionals was used to identify these barriers. The findings revealed five groups of barriers hindering the implementation of LCM. This study identified a new barrier that is related to the Lebanese industry which is using relationships to conceal mistakes and tolerate delays.

Keywords: lean; lean construction management; LCM; construction; barriers; implementation; hinder; success; pitfalls.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2022.126932

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2022 Vol.37 No.3, pp.323 - 343

Received: 28 Jan 2020
Accepted: 06 Jan 2021
Published online: 14 Nov 2022 *

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