Stakeholder Networks in Off-site Construction Supply Chain: A Systematic Literature Review

Successful delivery of off-site construction (OSC) projects depends on stakeholder operations across its complex supply chains. Compared with traditional construction projects, OSC projects involve more complex stakeholder networks because their design and technical requirements demand extensive collaboration and engagement among a wide range of stakeholders throughout the supply chain. Consequently, effective stakeholder networks that facilitate coordination and collaboration across the supply chain are critical to the successful delivery of OSC projects. However, inadequate stakeholder coordination, engagement, and communication constitute significant barriers to OSC implementation. These issues are particularly important in achieving sustainability in OSC projects. Despite their importance, research on stakeholder networks within OSC supply chains remains fragmented. Therefore, this study aims to synthesise existing knowledge on stakeholder networks in OSC supply chains through a systematic literature review (SLR) following the PRISMA framework. Scopus and Web of Science were used to retrieve the documents, yielding 157 and 149 records, respectively. After removing duplicates, pre-2010 publications, and non-English papers, 97 academic papers were retained, alongside five carefully selected industry reports, resulting in 102 documents for review. The findings indicate that clients, designers, manufacturers, contractors, suppliers, logistics providers, and regulatory authorities are the most frequently identified stakeholders in OSC supply chains. Their relationships are primarily characterised by coordination and information exchange across design, manufacturing, logistics, and construction activities, with attention given to stakeholder interactions during the design stage than during on-site construction. This review also reveals the limited attention to sustainability benefits enabled by stakeholder network and how collaboration can enhance environmental sustainability through waste reduction, reduced rework, improved efficiency. Further, this study indicates how social sustainability can be enhanced through enhanced stakeholder engagement. These findings highlight the need for understanding of stakeholder networks during the post-contract stage and how stakeholder collaboration can create and capture sustainability value across OSC supply chains.