Vol.:(0123456789) Discover Sustainability (2021) 2:25 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-021-00033-y 1 3 Discover Sustainability Research A framework for systemic sustainable construction industry development (SSCID) William Gyadu‑Asiedu 1  · Adwoa Ampadu‑Asiamah 2  · Alfred Fokuo‑Kusi 3 Received: 18 December 2020 / Accepted: 12 April 2021 © The Author(s) 2021 OPEN Abstract The quest for construction industry (CI) development in developing countries has met with several challenges. These challenges are numerous and varied. The study aimed to provide a framework by which the construction industry development agenda in developing countries could be prosecuted through a more structured and systemic approach. The qualitative research approach was adopted for the study. This approach was employed within the constructivist epistemological paradigm. Regarding information gathering, the study used the integrative literature review approach to elucidate the construction industry’s nature and its proper systemic context. Complexity, interconnectedness, fragmen- tation, culture, and informality were found to be common challenges inherent in most CIs. Concerning the development of the industry, the approach was to (1) consider the industry as a system of systems (enabling the use of the principles of systems thinking and systems engineering), (2) apply the concepts of sustainable development as considered within the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and specifed in the triple-bottom-line (TBL), i.e., the economic, environmental, and social dimensions, (3) identify the components of CI development (eight components were identifed), which are: technology development, corporate development, human resource development, institutional development, mate- rial development, documentation, practice and procedure, and operating environment), and (4) Integrated studies. A conceptual framework was modelled from all the identifed constructs. Based on this model, it was possible to pro- pose a framework for assessing the maturity level of a country’s sustainable construction industry development  and, thereby,  monitor its systemic development. Keywords Construction industry · Sustainable construction · System thinking · SDGs · Maturity framework 1 Introduction Construction industry development has been a global agenda. Developing countries at various development levels have put in eforts towards this objective [1, 2]. However, much has not been achieved due to several challenges facing the construction industries. According to Gyadu-Asiedu [3], most of the problems militating against achieving the desired efect on any country’s construction industry have to do with the project execution challenges. The common problems of low productivity, delays, and cost overrun have been nearly over-researched with very related results (e.g., [4–7]). Windapo and Cattell [8] undertook a literature review research and identifed 12 perceived challenges facing the South African Construction industry as follows: (i) Public-sector capacity, (ii) Mismatches between available skills and required * William Gyadu-Asiedu, willgyas@ktu.edu.gh; Adwoa Ampadu-Asiamah, nana.dife@gmail.com; Alfred Fokuo-Kusi, alfred_kof@ yahoo.co.uk | 1 Koforidua Technical University, P.O. Box 981, Koforidua, Ghana. 2 Accra Technical University, Barnes Road, P.O. GP 561, Accra, Ghana. 3 Sunyani Technical University, P.O. Box 206, Sunyani, Ghana.