Strategic planning practices in construction firms: a systematic review

Strategic planning aids enterprises to formulate a strategy, providing direction for future firm performance. However, strategic planning research has developed encompassing diverse subject matters. This has allowed scholars to thrive without being constrained, allowing multiple research perspectives. Numerous theories have been developed as the field has matured over the last fifty years in the business environment. This proposition holds true for the construction industry where these theories have been borrowed and adopted, resulting in an unclear landscape of how strategic planning practices occur in such firms. To answer this question a systematic literature review was conducted. Using the keywords “strategic planning” and “construction industry” between the years 2000-2022, a total of 511 papers were identified. After screening fifty papers were deemed appropriate for the study. Themes identified are strategic planning practices, human resource management, sustainability/environmental, strategic tools, alliances, performance, innovation, and theories. Strategic planning research is in decline, yet research of this subject has the potential to aid in a defined future for those who operate in the construction industry.