Developing customer satisfaction index for the construction industry: a case study for Saudi Arabia

While other industries focus more on developing customer satisfaction index (CSI) for better customer-focused services, the construction industry pays less attention to its customers. Thus, this study aims to develop a CSI for the construction industry. Accordingly, 48 customer satisfaction factors (CSFs) under seven groups were identified from the literature and evaluated based on their importance and satisfaction level. Afterward, 25 Saudi Arabian mega project owners evaluated the identified CSFs developing CSI for construction projects. The findings suggest some immediate corrective actions, such as adherence to schedule, adequacy of contractors’ resources on the site, and providing early notifications for work delays. The developed CSI can be considered a practical tool for contractors to know their customers’ expectations and monitor their performances in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries. Besides, the CSI development approach can be applied to other construction industries in different parts of the world.