Designing Buildings - User contributions [en]

International research into the causes of delays on construction projects

2015-08-07T15:47:50Z

Olanrewaju Alawode:

<br/>
OverviewWoodward (1997) likened most of the problems in the industry to the manner of its approach. He argued that it is one-offs in such a way that project teams are appointed by the client or his representative to create a unique development on a particular site under circumstances that will never be repeated subjected it to lots of problems as there is no room to learn from mistake on the same project. The construction project is also argued to be complex (Designing building 2014) comprising of non-linear and interactive process (Pryke 2004) that requires forecasting, planning, organizing, coordinating and controlling human, equipment and material resources inter-connectedly under circumstances that is not constant such as uncertain site conditions, unpredictable weather conditions, unsure suppliers efficiency etc. All the circumstances in which construction project prevail make delays as one of the problems to be common (Designing building 2014).Delay in construction was described to occur by Salunkhe and Patil (2014) when “the time overrun either beyond completion date specified in a contract, or beyond the date that the parties agreed upon for delivery of a project”. In other word, it can be considered as a situation whereby a project slips over its planned schedule.Delay is very common in construction projects across the world (Assaf and Al-Hejji 2005; Choudhury 2004) and the level of its commonness was argued to have become a global phenomenon occurring both in developed and developing countries (Salunkhe and Patil 2014). In United Kingdom, National Audit Office (2001) found that seventy percent of government construction projects experienced delay (Designing building 2014). Similarly, Assaf and Al-Hejji (2006) in their research also found that about seventy percent of the projects in Saudi Arabia experienced time overruns and so also are the various report all around the world (Aibinu and Jagboro 2002; Odeyinka and Yusif 1997).When a project is delayed, Vyas (2013) stated that it causes stress to the project participants and they tend to negate the effect of the delay by either accelerating the work process or extend the project duration beyond the scheduled completion date (Aibinu and Jagboro 2002). These are not without consequences.The consequence of delay is severe and its impacts on construction projects ranges from time overrun, cost overrun, dispute, arbitration and litigation and to total abandonment (Salunkhe and Patil 2014; Aibinu and Jagboro 2002). The overall performance construction industry in term of time is poor (Ajanlekoko 1987). Therefore, performance on completion time in construction projects has become a central concern to the construction stakeholder (Sambasivan and Soon, 2007; Alaghbari, et. al., 2007). Thus, in order to achieve project success in terms of time, cost and quality several radical steps have to be taken on the work processes (Salunkhe and Patil 2014).In order to address this major concern, construction experts embarked on research to unravel the causes and most of the discoveries were related to the actions and inactions of the project participants in the construction industry like clients, consultants and contractors (Winch, 2002). Basically, it is the lapses in performing the responsibilities of project participant that tend to boomerang into the aftermath of the factors causing delay.Researchers have extensively identified the various factors causing delays on different construction projects across different regions and the research works have shown that some of these factors tend to be common on projects regardless of the type and region while others are less frequent. In addition, the region in which the research work was based tends to influence the researchers’ view and the sets of delay factors.Therefore, every of the factors identified to cause delay are very relevant to this work inconsequential of the region. As construction project is acclaimed to be complex and dynamic, having broad factors will aid in generating holistic view on delay factors towards addressing it.<br/>Factors causing delayOdeyinka and Yusif (1997) argued based on their research on Nigeria construction projects that the causes of delay are attributed to project participants which includes variation in orders, slow decision-making, financial issues, material management problems, planning and scheduling problems, inadequate site inspection, equipment management problems and shortage of manpower. They further identified other factors that cause delay in projects but not caused by the project participants. This is being classified as extraneous factors like inclement weather and earthquake.The factors identified by Odeyinka and Yusif (1997) covers about 50% of the total factors identified to cause delay in construction industry by researchers reviewed on this work. Similar to causes of delay identified by Odeyinka and Yusif (1997), Zayyana et al. (2014) on their research in Malaysia, Kaming et al. (2007) in Indonesia identified corresponding factors.In addition, Assaf et al. (2006) on their research in Saudi Arabia identified eight common factors causing delay in construction projects. 75% of the factors identified were not covered by previous researchers. The factors identified includes design changes, delay in drawings, slow contractor’s pace, relationship between the project participants, financial issues, slow decision-making and labour issues.Further on the factors identified, Sambasivan and Soon (2006) on construction projects in Malaysia identified lack of communication, equipment availability and failure, inadequate contractor’s experience, labour issues, poor site management, material shortage, planning and scheduling problems and inadequate finance on the project as the major cause of delay. Kaming et al. (2007) in Indonesia, Ubaid (1991), Al-barak (1993) also shared similar view on these identified factors.Vyas (2013) in his research on construction projects in India identified safety, equipment and daily target as some of the factors that causes delay in projects which previous researchers have not included.Likewise Al-Momani (2000) on his research in Jordan highlighted the main causes of delay in construction to be due to designer, variation orders, weather, site conditions, late deliveries, financial issues and increase in quantity.Again, Noulmanee et al. (2000) investigated delay factors on Highway construction in Thailand and concluded that main causes come from inadequacy of sub-contractors, organization that lacks sufficient resources, incomplete and unclear drawings and deficiencies between consultants and contractors.Furthermore, Chan and Kumaraswamy (1997) argued that the five principal and common causes of delays are: poor site management and supervision, unforeseen ground conditions, low speed of decision making involving all project teams, client-initiated variations and necessary variations of works.Similarly, Odeh and Battaineh (2000) also conducted a survey aimed at identifying the most important causes of delays in construction projects as owner interference, inadequate contractor’s experience, financing and payments, labour productivity, slow decision making, improper planning, and subcontractors were among the top ten most important factors.Other research conducted in the course of identifying delay factors includes Ellis and Thomas (2002) on Highway construction in USA, Sun et al. (2004) on construction project in UK, Koukshi et al. (2005) on residential project in Kuwait, Motaleb and Kishk (2013) on construction in UAE, Yang (2010) on construction projects in Taiwan, Kaliba et al (2009) on road project in Zambia, Long (2008) on construction project in Vietnam, Ahmed et al (2003) on building project in USA, United Nation Development (2010) on construction project in Iraq and Tumi et al (2009) on construction projects in Libya.<br/>Major causes of delayIt is therefore apparent that the causes of delay in construction revolve around certain factors when all the literatures above are reviewed. These causes deemed to be universal as the causes of delay in one country is quite similar to the other. Therefore, a summary of the causes of delay from the above literature will be applicable anywhere in the world. The summary of the major causes of delay is however highlighted;1. Design changes</div>2. Financial issues</div>3. Variation orders</div>4. Slow decision-making</div>5. Planning and scheduling problems</div>6. Material management problems</div>7. Poor site inspection</div>8. Shortages in labour</div>9. Delays in drawing</div>10. Slow contractor’s pace</div>11. Relationship between project participants</div>12. Unforeseen conditions</div>13. Design errors and </div>14. Inadequate contractors experience.</div><br/>

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International research into the causes of delays on construction projects

2015-08-07T15:46:38Z

Olanrewaju Alawode: Created page with " OverviewWoodward (1997) likened most of the problems in the industry to the manner of its approach. He argued that it is one-offs in such a way that project teams are appointed..."

OverviewWoodward (1997) likened most of the problems in the industry to the manner of its approach. He argued that it is one-offs in such a way that project teams are appointed by the client or his representative to create a unique development on a particular site under circumstances that will never be repeated subjected it to lots of problems as there is no room to learn from mistake on the same project. The construction project is also argued to be complex (Designing building 2014) comprising of non-linear and interactive process (Pryke 2004) that requires forecasting, planning, organizing, coordinating and controlling human, equipment and material resources inter-connectedly under circumstances that is not constant such as uncertain site conditions, unpredictable weather conditions, unsure suppliers efficiency etc. All the circumstances in which construction project prevail make delays as one of the problems to be common (Designing building 2014). Delay in construction was described to occur by Salunkhe and Patil (2014) when “the time overrun either beyond completion date specified in a contract, or beyond the date that the parties agreed upon for delivery of a project”. In other word, it can be considered as a situation whereby a project slips over its planned schedule. Delay is very common in construction projects across the world (Assaf and Al-Hejji 2005; Choudhury 2004) and the level of its commonness was argued to have become a global phenomenon occurring both in developed and developing countries (Salunkhe and Patil 2014). In United Kingdom, National Audit Office (2001) found that seventy percent of government construction projects experienced delay (Designing building 2014). Similarly, Assaf and Al-Hejji (2006) in their research also found that about seventy percent of the projects in Saudi Arabia experienced time overruns and so also are the various report all around the world (Aibinu and Jagboro 2002; Odeyinka and Yusif 1997).When a project is delayed, Vyas (2013) stated that it causes stress to the project participants and they tend to negate the effect of the delay by either accelerating the work process or extend the project duration beyond the scheduled completion date (Aibinu and Jagboro 2002). These are not without consequences.The consequence of delay is severe and its impacts on construction projects ranges from time overrun, cost overrun, dispute, arbitration and litigation and to total abandonment (Salunkhe and Patil 2014; Aibinu and Jagboro 2002). The overall performance construction industry in term of time is poor (Ajanlekoko 1987). Therefore, performance on completion time in construction projects has become a central concern to the construction stakeholder (Sambasivan and Soon, 2007; Alaghbari, et. al., 2007). Thus, in order to achieve project success in terms of time, cost and quality several radical steps have to be taken on the work processes (Salunkhe and Patil 2014). In order to address this major concern, construction experts embarked on research to unravel the causes and most of the discoveries were related to the actions and inactions of the project participants in the construction industry like clients, consultants and contractors (Winch, 2002). Basically, it is the lapses in performing the responsibilities of project participant that tend to boomerang into the aftermath of the factors causing delay.Researchers have extensively identified the various factors causing delays on different construction projects across different regions and the research works have shown that some of these factors tend to be common on projects regardless of the type and region while others are less frequent. In addition, the region in which the research work was based tends to influence the researchers’ view and the sets of delay factors.Therefore, every of the factors identified to cause delay are very relevant to this work inconsequential of the region. As construction project is acclaimed to be complex and dynamic, having broad factors will aid in generating holistic view on delay factors towards addressing it.<br/>Factors causing delayOdeyinka and Yusif (1997) argued based on their research on Nigeria construction projects that the causes of delay are attributed to project participants which includes variation in orders, slow decision-making, financial issues, material management problems, planning and scheduling problems, inadequate site inspection, equipment management problems and shortage of manpower. They further identified other factors that cause delay in projects but not caused by the project participants. This is being classified as extraneous factors like inclement weather and earthquake.The factors identified by Odeyinka and Yusif (1997) covers about 50% of the total factors identified to cause delay in construction industry by researchers reviewed on this work. Similar to causes of delay identified by Odeyinka and Yusif (1997), Zayyana et al. (2014) on their research in Malaysia, Kaming et al. (2007) in Indonesia identified corresponding factors.In addition, Assaf et al. (2006) on their research in Saudi Arabia identified eight common factors causing delay in construction projects. 75% of the factors identified were not covered by previous researchers. The factors identified includes design changes, delay in drawings, slow contractor’s pace, relationship between the project participants, financial issues, slow decision-making and labour issues. Further on the factors identified, Sambasivan and Soon (2006) on construction projects in Malaysia identified lack of communication, equipment availability and failure, inadequate contractor’s experience, labour issues, poor site management, material shortage, planning and scheduling problems and inadequate finance on the project as the major cause of delay. Kaming et al. (2007) in Indonesia, Ubaid (1991), Al-barak (1993) also shared similar view on these identified factors. Vyas (2013) in his research on construction projects in India identified safety, equipment and daily target as some of the factors that causes delay in projects which previous researchers have not included.Likewise Al-Momani (2000) on his research in Jordan highlighted the main causes of delay in construction to be due to designer, variation orders, weather, site conditions, late deliveries, financial issues and increase in quantity.Again, Noulmanee et al. (2000) investigated delay factors on Highway construction in Thailand and concluded that main causes come from inadequacy of sub-contractors, organization that lacks sufficient resources, incomplete and unclear drawings and deficiencies between consultants and contractors.Furthermore, Chan and Kumaraswamy (1997) argued that the five principal and common causes of delays are: poor site management and supervision, unforeseen ground conditions, low speed of decision making involving all project teams, client-initiated variations and necessary variations of works. Similarly, Odeh and Battaineh (2000) also conducted a survey aimed at identifying the most important causes of delays in construction projects as owner interference, inadequate contractor’s experience, financing and payments, labour productivity, slow decision making, improper planning, and subcontractors were among the top ten most important factors.Other research conducted in the course of identifying delay factors includes Ellis and Thomas (2002) on Highway construction in USA, Sun et al. (2004) on construction project in UK, Koukshi et al. (2005) on residential project in Kuwait, Motaleb and Kishk (2013) on construction in UAE, Yang (2010) on construction projects in Taiwan, Kaliba et al (2009) on road project in Zambia, Long (2008) on construction project in Vietnam, Ahmed et al (2003) on building project in USA, United Nation Development (2010) on construction project in Iraq and Tumi et al (2009) on construction projects in Libya.<br/>Major causes of delayIt is therefore apparent that the causes of delay in construction revolve around certain factors when all the literatures above are reviewed. These causes deemed to be universal as the causes of delay in one country is quite similar to the other. Therefore, a summary of the causes of delay from the above literature will be applicable anywhere in the world. The summary of the major causes of delay is however highlighted; 1. Design changes</div>2. Financial issues</div>3. Variation orders</div>4. Slow decision-making</div>5. Planning and scheduling problems</div>6. Material management problems</div>7. Poor site inspection</div>8. Shortages in labour</div>9. Delays in drawing</div>10. Slow contractor’s pace</div>11. Relationship between project participants</div>12. Unforeseen conditions</div>13. Design errors and </div>14. Inadequate contractors experience.</div><br/>

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