Public governance in the context of Construction 4.0: a systematic and comprehensive literature review

Abstract

PurposeBy providing an overview of the existing knowledge on public governance in the context of Construction 4.0, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers and practitioners interested in understanding the current state of public governance in the context of Construction 4.0 and identifying avenues for future research and practical implementation.Design/methodology/approachThis article presents a systematic and comprehensive review of the academic literature on public governance in the context of Construction 4.0. To ensure a systematic and rigorous selection of source material, the study adopts the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.FindingsBy examining a wide range of scholarly works, the review identifies and discusses eight recurring themes that are crucial for understanding the role of public governance in Construction 4.0. These themes include policy and regulation, infrastructure and investment, skill development and education, digital inclusion and access, collaboration and partnerships, data governance and privacy, interactions with environmental and societal goals and the impact of Construction 4.0 on public governance itself. The review highlights a significant disparity between the normative debates on the importance of public governance in Construction 4.0 and the empirical knowledge available regarding its practical implementation. While the literature emphasizes the need for effective governance mechanisms to address the challenges and opportunities presented by Construction 4.0, there is a notable lack of empirical research examining the actual implementation and outcomes of public governance strategies.Originality/valueThis is the first systematic review of academic literature on public governance in the context of Construction 4.0.

Editorial: Innovation and lean practices for sustainable construction project management; emerging technologies, strategies and challenges

“…Van der Heijden (2024) presents a critical review of public governance within the framework of Construction 4.0, targeting researchers, policymakers and practitioners. This study systematically assesses the academic discourse on this topic using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and meta-analysis guidelines for source selection.…”

“…This study systematically assesses the academic discourse on this topic using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and meta-analysis guidelines for source selection. Van der Heijden (2024) uncovers eight key themes central to public governance’s role in Construction 4.0, including policy, infrastructure, skill development, digital inclusion, collaboration, data privacy, environmental and societal impacts and the influence of Construction 4.0 on governance. This review underscores a noticeable gap between the theoretical importance of public governance in Construction 4.0 and the limited empirical research on its practical application.…”