Organisations aim to create value from infrastructure assets under varying circumstances with asset management. Asset management is inherently complex with multiple interacting actors and processes, varying asset stages, and evolving contextual conditions. While performance management should enable the evolution and improvement of asset management, conventional approaches often neglect its complexity and dynamic nature. In this study, we adopt a sociotechnical system perspective to asset management performance to (i) explain how performance results from interdependencies across social and technical elements and their alignment and (ii) embed adaptation to contextual change as intrinsic to performance management. We developed and demonstrated this perspective with an abductive research approach based on an in-depth study of asset management for storm surge barriers, providing a unique and safety-critical infrastructure context. We iterated between theory and field data to code interdependency associated with performance pathways and consolidated them into sociotechnical alignments. Based on these empirical results, we developed a conceptual model for monitoring and managing asset management performance over time, connecting it to leading indicators and performance outcomes. We made the model actionable by linking contextual signals to the alignments they disturb and directing targeted sociotechnical adjustments. By integrating sociotechnical systems into asset management performance, this study contributes to the theory with a contemporary approach to performance, while emphasising adaptation. The findings provide context-specific insights while demonstrating a methodological approach that can be adapted to other infrastructure domains operating under dynamic governance and operational conditions.

Due to increasing flood risks, storm surge barriers become crucial for the socioeconomic continuity of coastal areas. They provide flood protection, especially against extreme events, by operating under specific circumstances. This imposes high-performance requirements for storm surge barriers and their asset management during their lifetime and emphasises the role and criticality of their asset management. For this purpose, the research investigates asset management for storm surge barriers by focusing on the approach in the Netherlands and analysing it relative to distinctive characteristics of storm surge barriers. Based on thematic analysis, the study unfolds that barriers’ characteristics: (1) clarify the vital motives for the asset management approach, (2) confront the approach with challenging conditions, resulting in further maturation of the approach, and (3) require ongoing support from the approach, enforcing continuous improvement and resilience of the asset management approach. These findings demonstrate the strong influence of barriers’ characteristics on their asset management approach and provide a fundamental understanding of asset management for storm surge barriers. This supports flood defence authorities in the development and improvement of asset management for storm surge barriers and underpins associated complexities for future designs and research. Furthermore, the study assists in tailoring approaches for other assets.

Due to climate change, the risk of flooding is increasing with potentially severe consequences on highly populated and economically developed coastal zones. Storm surge barriers protect against such events with the critical task of closing during extreme weather conditions to prohibit the propagation of water. This highlights the importance of maintaining the high reliability of these structures and the challenge to reach this goal for rarely operated and unique infrastructures. To deal with this challenge, the study creates a foundation to set an asset management approach for storm surge barriers or assets with similar characteristics. This is done by studying the case of The Netherlands with the aim to [1] describe the asset management approach, [2] identify key features of the approach, [3] investigate the connection between these features and the characteristics of the barriers, and [4] conclude the influence of the characteristics on the establishment of an asset management approach.