Analyzing Barriers to Sustainable Enterprise Risk Management in the Construction Sector: A Delphi Method and Interpretive Structural Modelling Approach

Although sustainability has become a central concern in project management research, its integration into enterprise risk practices in construction remains limited. This study investigates the complex set of barriers preventing effective implementation of Sustainable Enterprise Risk Management (SERM) within the construction industry of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With increasing pressures on construction projects to embed sustainability and resilience into risk governance, understanding why SERM adoption continues to lag remains a critical concern. To address this gap, a structured four-stage methodology was employed. First, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted to extract potential barriers to SERM implementation from the academic and industry literature. These barriers were then evaluated through expert input using the Delphi method, allowing for consensus validation and refinement. The validated barriers were subsequently examined using Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) to understand their directional relationships and hierarchical linkages. Finally, MICMAC analysis was used to assess each barrier’s driving and dependence power within the system. Results revealed that certain barriers, most notably the lack of senior management commitment, exert significant influence over others and act as root challenges that sustain systemic resistance to SERM adoption. These findings highlight the importance of addressing foundational organizational issues before technical or procedural improvements can be effective. The study offers valuable guidance for policymakers, contractors, and project leaders working in the UAE context by identifying high-leverage points for intervention. It also contributes to the growing body of research on sustainable risk practices by combining expert-driven validation and structured modelling to expose the underlying architecture of implementation barriers in construction risk governance.