Blockchain-smart contracts have emerged as a new value proposition in improving certain aspects of sustainability in projects. However, there is little knowledge on how smart contracts can be leveraged to stimulate sustainable project performance from the integrated perspective. This study aims to capture the latest research development and applications of smart contracts for sustainable outcomes throughout the project lifecycle. Bibliometric and content analyses were conducted to critically review smart contracts and sustainable project performance. The results show that various new applications of smart contracts for sustainability have become more popular in the architecture, engineering, construction, and operation (AECO) industry. A smart contracts-sustainable project performance framework has been developed to fill up the research gaps for improving each dimension of sustainability and the integrated dimensions of sustainability during the project lifecycle. This study renders important implications for promoting sustainable project performance in the context of the engineering, construction, and operation industry, particularly for the required interdisciplinary research and practice in smart contracts.
Keywords: AECO industry; Blockchain; Critical review; Framework; Smart contract; Sustainable project performance.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2023, Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.