The Governance of PPP Project Resilience: A Hybrid DMATEL-ISM Approach

Considering the inherent characteristics of long-term agreements, public–private partnership (PPP) projects are confronted with diverse uncertainties and external challenges. However, existing research has devoted limited attention to the resilience of PPP projects. This study seeks to identify governance factors influencing PPP project resilience and analyze the interconnections among these factors in fostering such resilience. A governance framework for PPP project resilience is proposed, comprising thirteen governance factors across four dimensions: institutional, organizational, contractual, and managerial factors. The interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) techniques are adopted to explore the hierarchical relationships and interactive mechanisms among these governance factors in a systematic view. The findings reveal that strategic alliances, risk allocation and transfer, flexible contracting, and long-term relationship management represent core governance factors critical to enhancing project resilience. Institutional factors are identified as the most foundational determinants within the governance system, while contractual and managerial factors act as mediating elements facilitating the translation of institutional foundations into operational resilience. This study deepened the understanding of the practitioners with regard to the key governance factors and their inter-relationships, which can help systematically enhance the resilience of PPP projects.