Critical success factors influencing the successful implementation of performance-based contracts for road maintenance

Abstract This study investigates the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for implementing performance-based contracts (PBCs) in road maintenance within Saudi Arabia (KSA). Despite the successful implementation of PBCs in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America (USA), and the Netherlands, KSA continues to rely primarily on traditional road maintenance contracting methods, which often result in inefficient resource allocation and inconsistent quality control. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted with 93 professionals from public agencies, contractors, and consultancy firms to evaluate and rank 28 CSFs identified through a literature review and expert consultation. These factors were analyzed, and mean scores were used to rank the CSFs, while Principal Component Analysis (PCA) grouped them into broader thematic clusters. The results identified five leading factors: clear performance standards, sufficient expertise and skills among stakeholders, continuous training and development, interactive meetings to address key issues, and transparent evaluation criteria. The analysis grouped the factors into four main clusters: collaborative team culture, long-term quality perspective, consistent goals, and resource sharing. Although the four extracted components accounted for 49.96% of the total variance, the findings still provide meaningful insight into the dominant organizational and operational dimensions influencing PBC implementation. The ANOVA results indicated no statistically significant differences among stakeholder groups. These findings highlight the importance of promoting collaboration, strengthening institutional capacity, and developing clear performance metrics to facilitate the successful implementation of PBCs aligned with KSA’s Vision 2030 goals. The study also recommends further investigation into digital technologies, cost modeling, and international benchmarking to enhance the implementation of PBC in KSA’s road maintenance sector.