Abstract:
Construction delays in developing world are one of the major challenges faced by the planners and designers as well as Governments and is generally acknowledged as the most common, costly and risky problem encountered in construction projects. Mostly they are accompanied by cost and time overruns. These delays have overwhelming effects on all parties including owner, contractor and consultant in terms of adversarial relationship, distrust, litigation, arbitration, cash-flow problems, and a general feeling of apprehension towards each other. Thus there is a tremendous need for the application of professional construction management knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to mitigate the delay factors and minimize their effects. This research is based on the survey of major housing schemes in major cities of Pakistan and aimed at acquiring the feedback from all major stakeholders including clients, contractors and consultants regarding the significance of construction delays and their devastating effects. Hence for this study twenty (20) housing schemes including 55% completed, 25% partially completed and 20% running projects were considered. Fifty three (53) main delay factors were identified through study of literature review, pilot survey and discussion with the executives of major stakeholders. These delay factors were grouped into three major categories namely client related delays, contractor related delays and consultant related delays and all major stakeholders were asked to give their feedback regarding these delay categories separately.
Out of 120 respondents, 102 of them filled the questionnaire survey showing a response rate of 85%. The result of analysis showed that 53% of housing schemes faced up till 10% time overrun, 33 % faced up till 20% time overrun and 14% of them faced more than 20% time overrun. Based on the ranking, the five most important factors of client related delays contributors as perceived by contractors and consultants were: (a) Slow decision making on project matters, (b) Undue interference by owner and his representative, (c) Unrealistic contract duration imposed by client, (d) Frequent Change orders and (e) Lack of communication & coordination and site meetings .The five most important contractor related delay contributors as perceived by clients and consultants were: (a) Poor safety/risk management, (b) Poor contingency planning, (c) Rework due to errors during construction, (d) Poor financial capability, and (e) Hiring of unreliable and incompetent subcontractor
