Factors Affecting Construction Planning Efforts

Abstract

Comprehensive research is being performed addressing construction planning on a broader front covering environmental, technological, organizational, human, and information-handling aspects. A study is reported which is part of this broader effort and which examined the effect of uncertainty on the efforts invested in planning, and on its outcome. Details are given of the research method which consisted of collecting data by means of a questionnaire which proposed a model project having four fixed and eight variable characteristics. The findings are presented and the results are analyzed. The study found that when going from average to complex/uncertain situations, planning efforts should be adjusted to meet the changed conditions. However, no such adjustments are necessary when moving from average to simple/certain situations. The study findings show which of the various situations affect any one planning measure, as well as the extent of such influence. These and other findings are discussed.