The top 10 universal delay factors in construction projects

Abstract

Purpose Projects often face delays and unnecessary use of time due to various factors and reasons, and hence suffer from unfavourable consequences. The purpose of this paper is to identify the universal delay factors from an intensive literature review, complemented by delay factors in major Norwegian construction projects based on empirical data. Design/methodology/approach The study in which this paper is based includes an intensive literature review, and semi-quantitative open survey questionnaires. This paper addresses frequency and type of delay factors in construction projects, in Norway based on the survey, and worldwide based on the previous studies. Findings From the study, the causes of delays facing the Norwegian construction industry are: poor planning and scheduling; slow/poor decision-making process; internal administrative procedures and bureaucracy within project organisations; resources shortage (human resources, machinery, equipment); poor communication and coordination between parties; slow quality inspection process of the completed work; design changes during construction/change orders; sponsor/owner/client lack of commitment and/or clear demands (goals and objectives); late/slow/incomplete/improper design; office issues; and users’ issues. And the top 10 universal delay factors are: design changes during construction/change orders; delays in payment of contractor(s); poor planning and scheduling; poor site management and supervision; incomplete or improper design; inadequate contractor experience/building methods and approaches; contractor’s financial difficulties; sponsor/owner/client’s financial difficulties; resources shortage (human resources, machinery, equipment); and poor labour productivity and shortage of skills. Research limitations/implications When it comes to the identification of delay factors in major Norwegian projects, the research is based on a sample of 202 respondents from an open survey questionnaire. It should be noted that analysing a large population of respondents that have been asked open questions can be challenging due to the vague findings it might lead to. Also, when it comes to the identification of the universal delay factors, there were different methods used by different authors, within different context. Similar future studies in Norway based on qualitative and quantitative methods will give better verification for the findings. Practical implications This paper has documented the critical delay factors/causes in Norway. The results of this study will help project managers, in Norway and elsewhere, to be aware and know about the potential causes of delay in their construction projects, which will help to identify the possible risks in the early phases of the project. Another practical implication is to make project managers and policy makers conscious that delays are quite universal, making it necessary to identify them as a first step. Social implications The identification of delays factors and causes can permit projects to implement mitigation actions to avoid delays, thus allowing delivering schools, hospitals and other necessary infrastructure on schedule or ahead of schedule to society. Originality/value This paper highlights most (almost all) of the studies in the literature, including to the study done in Norway, concerning the delay factors in construction projects and large construction projects in general. This wide review of relevant literature will save time other academicians from having to conduct similar studies. This study will assist both academic and professional experts providing more insight about the delay causes in large-scale construction projects.

Delay Causes and Emerging Digital Tools: A Novel Model of Delay Analysis, Including Integrated Project Delivery and PMBOK

“…Unique factors (with the frequency of three or less) are: "'Slow decision making process by owner" in Norway [90], UAE [84], and Oman [98]; "Changes in material types and specifications during construction" in Saudi Arabia [102], Turkey [117], and Zambia [113]; "Change/selection of subcontractors in the project" in India [79], Saudi Arabia [112], and Vietnam [105]; "Mobilization delay" in India [127], Malaysia [109], and Malawi [81]; "Site constraints (site blockage, impact of other's land)" in Bangladesh [87], Cambodia [103], and countries with high geopolitical risks [104]; "Impact of subsurface (underground) conditions" in Libya [91], Cambodia [103], and Egypt [123]; "Conflict between parties' in Iran [101], Turkey [70], and Egypt [107]; "Errors in construction" in Iran [93], Zambia [113], and Denmark [89]; "Fluctuation in price of materials" in Saudi Arabia [102] and Ghana [100]; "Conflict between labours" in Saudi Arabia [88] and Zambia [113]; "Labour strikes" in countries with high geopolitical risks [104] and Zambia [113]; "Using inappropriate construction methods" in India [92] and Iran [110]; "Insufficient/inaccurate document preparation" in Turkey [70] and Iran [110]; "Inaccurate first drafts/plan" in Iran [110] and Taiwan [132]; "Delay/weak interaction due to vendor" in India [127] and Oman…”

Major Causes Assessment of Construction Delays

“…KPMG's 2019 Annual global construction survey found that for the middle 60% of companies, cost and time overruns still remained a major challenge (KPMG, 2019). At the global level, an analysis of over 104 published research articles related to delays across 45 countries with the intention of identifying the universal top 10 causes of delays revealed that change orders, delays in payments to contractors, poor planning and scheduling, poor site management and supervision, incomplete design, inexperienced contractors, contractor's financial difficulties, owners financial difficulties, resource shortages, and poor labour productivity/shortage of skills were the top universal causes of construction delays (Zidane and Andersen, 2018). Eizakshiri et al (2015) have questioned the 'intentionality' of studying project delays, arguing that researchers are unaware of the intents of the planners involved in planning the schedule for projects.…”

Causes of Time and Cost Overrun: A Case Study of Health Sector Projects in Peshawar, KP

“…The causes of time overruns differ from project to project and in different situations. The top universal delay factors are delay in payment of contractor(s), poor planning and scheduling, poor site management, design changes during construction, inadequate contractor experience and approaches, sponsor/ owner/client's financial difficulties, improper or incomplete design, poor site management and supervision, shortage of skills and poor productivity (Zidane & Andersen, 2018). According to Ade-ojo and Babalola (2013), major causes are design error, poor site condition, delay in payment, financial incapability of client etc.…”