Systematic Review on the Use of CCPM in Project Management: Empirical Applications and Trends

This study aims to critically analyze the theoretical and practical contributions of recent literature on the Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) method in multi-project environments. To this end, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted based on 62 studies indexed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases between 2014 and 2025. The articles were analyzed in terms of application domains, employed methods, obtained results, and proposed integrations with other approaches. Most studies used modeling and simulation, focusing on time reduction, risk mitigation, and cost optimization. A growing trend has been identified toward integrating CCPM with methodologies, such as Scrum, BIM, Lean Construction, Fuzzy FMEA, and predictive algorithms, thereby broadening its applicability in high-complexity scenarios. However, a significant gap remains in empirical studies applied to Engineer-to-Order (ETO) systems and service-based organizations, which are characterized by high customization, variability, and interdependence of resources. The research is justified by the need to consolidate accumulated knowledge on CCPM and to guide future investigations toward underexplored sectors. The findings strengthen the theoretical robustness of the method while indicating concrete opportunities for empirical validation in real-world organizational settings.