Supply chain risks for SMEs in construction projects:a structured literature review and research agenda

Purpose Whilst there has been much research examining risk management in construction supply chains, there is a relative dearth of knowledge concerning small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in this context. SMEs are considered vulnerable economic agents due to their financial constraints and reduced viability compared to large firms. This study aims to fill this gap by providing a comprehensive review, identifying key challenges in the research and generating a future research agenda. Design/methodology/approach A structured literature review was conducted in this study, resulting in the identification of 106 articles that relate to construction SME risks. Thematic analysis was then employed to determine the supply chain risk themes. Additionally, VOSviewer was employed to depict content frequency and, most recently, trends based on the timeline. Findings This paper uncovers eight distinct supply chain risks pertinent to construction SMEs, arranging these into three themes from the standpoint of supply chain risk management. Moreover, it identifies six gaps in the existing body of research on construction SMEs and puts forth prospective research directions and questions to address each of these identified gaps. Originality/value The practical significance of this study is to provide SMEs in the construction industry with a comprehensive framework for identifying and categorizing risks related to management and strategy, operations and processes and sustainability. With this framework, SMEs can systematically assess potential risks at all stages of a project.