The current body of research lacks adequate investigation of project success, especially for dam construction projects. Despite the considerable body of research in the field of project management, an empirical examination of the performance of dam projects, which carry substantial economic, social, and environmental impacts, is still lacking. This research attempts to fill the gap by conducting a survey among construction professionals who have experience with dams. Alongside the continuing construction projects to augment and upgrade existing dams, there is currently an unprecedented surge in the number of new dams planned or under construction. This is driven by the energy transition towards achieving net zero targets, with a focus on pumped-hydro schemes as an efficient form of large-scale energy storage. Exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) are applied to explore critical success factors (CSFs) and success criteria (SC) and their relationships. This paper offers valuable recommendations for professionals to improve project performance and adds to the limited literature on dam construction project success. Construction professionals can optimize their efforts by strategically implementing the project elements presented in this research. This ultimately leads to improved project outcomes, increased efficiency, and lower costs.
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