Critical success factors for innovation in Egyptian construction firms

Innovation is a critical driver of growth and sustainability in the construction industry, as it enhances processes, reduces costs, and increases productivity. While extensive research in developed countries has modeled innovation, identified key variables, and assessed outcomes, the transferability of these findings remains limited. In contrast, developing economies have received relatively little scholarly attention. This study addresses this gap by identifying critical innovation success factors (CISFs) within Egyptian construction firms. A sequential approach was adopted: first, a literature review identified 81 potential factors; these were refined through a pilot study with ten senior professionals, yielding 27 innovation success factors (ISFs). A structured questionnaire was subsequently distributed to 137 professionals representing contractors, owners, and consultants. Data analysis utilized normalized mean scores to determine CISFs, with intergroup differences tested using the Kruskal–Wallis test and correlations assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. The analysis identified 20 CISFs; the top five are: appreciation of innovative members, availability of digital infrastructure, constructive interaction among multidisciplinary teams, integration of idea generation into job requirements, and leadership support for learning initiatives. This study provides practitioners with prioritized factors for implementing and evaluating innovation, enabling more effective resource allocation and expanding understanding of innovation in Egypt’s construction sector.