Integrated project delivery (IPD) for resilient growth of construction small and medium enterprises (SMEs)

Purpose – Construction small and medium enterprises (SMEs) often face resource constraints and rely on traditional procurement methods, leading to fragmented project delivery and persistent operational challenges. This study investigates how integrated project delivery (IPD) can mitigate these challenges and enhance SME resilience, using Paradox theory to conceptualise SME problems as enduring tensions between flexibility, capability and performance. Design/methodology/approach – Adopting a pragmatist stance, a mixed-methods approach was employed. A systematic literature review using PRISMA identified SME challenges and the benefits of IPD. A questionnaire survey of 120 respondents was analysed using the relative importance index and a random forest algorithm. Additionally, 16 semi-structured interviews with industry experts explored IPD benefits, with qualitative data analysed using code-based content analysis in NVivo. Findings – The study identifies 86 challenges faced by SMEs, grouped into management, technical, legal/political, financial and other issues. IPD was found to enhance collaboration, improve stakeholder engagement, support early decision-making, reduce design flaws and mitigate risks. Financially, IPD addresses budget overruns and cash flow constraints, while technologically, it promotes the adoption of innovative practices. Legal and policy barriers, however, remain significant constraints to IPD implementation. Originality/value – While IPD has been widely studied in large construction projects, its application to SMEs is underexplored. This study provides a systematic investigation of SME challenges and demonstrates how IPD can be used to strategically address them, offering practical recommendations for policymakers and industry practitioners. By linking IPD benefits to SME-specific constraints, the research contributes to theory, informs practice and supports sustainable growth and competitiveness in construction SMEs.