Date of Award
12-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Construction Science and Management (MCSM)
Department
Construction Science and Management
Committee Chair/Advisor
N. Mike Jackson, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Thomas Leathem, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Ehsan Mousavi Rizi, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Dhaval R Gajjar, Ph.D.
Abstract
For more than fifty years, construction project success has been judged by staying on schedule, remaining within budget, and completing the planned scope of work—an approach commonly known as the “Iron Triangle” (Barnes, Ph.D., 2006). While these measures are important, they do not capture the full range of factors that determine whether a project truly succeeds.
This study introduces the “Iron Pyramid” (Cooley, 2025), a model that expands the traditional framework by adding a fourth dimension: safety. Safety is understood not simply as regulatory compliance or the absence of injuries, but as a holistic construct encompassing project culture, leadership practices, worker empowerment, and the mental health and well-being of the workforce. In this model, safety is both quantifiable and relational, reflecting how people interact, make decisions, and support one another on a project.
To develop the Iron Pyramid, the researcher conducted a wide-ranging review of academic studies, industry reports, and safety science literature. From this synthesis, ten “dimensions of safety” were identified. Some are tangible and easily measured—such as safe work environments, compliance practices, and long-term facility performance—while others are less visible yet equally critical, including organizational culture, leadership influence, and psychosocial well-being.
By shifting from a two-dimensional triangle to a three-dimensional pyramid, the model positions safety alongside cost, schedule, and scope as a fundamental measure of project success. The Iron Pyramid offers a more comprehensive way to evaluate performance and encourages a reexamination of how success is defined in construction. It also lays the groundwork for future research on the human-centered factors that shape project outcomes.
Recommended Citation
Cooley, Laura, "The Iron Pyramid: Expanding the Iron Triangle to Integrate Safety as a Fundamental Dimension of Construction Success" (2025). All Theses. 4626.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4626
Author ORCID Identifier
0009-0007-1547-7695
Included in
Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics Commons, Construction Engineering Commons, Operational Research Commons, Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons, Other Business Commons, Strategic Management Policy Commons
Comments
This work redefines construction project success by integrating safety culture, leadership, and worker well-being into a four-sided performance model known as the Iron Pyramid.