Managing Fast-Track Construction Project in Qatar: Challenges and Opportunities

Temitope Egbelakin,Temitope Omotayo,Olabode Ogunmakinde,Billie Teshich

doi:10.3390/buildings11120640

Temitope Egbelakin, Temitope Omotayo + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11120640

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Abstract

Fast-track construction projects are becoming increasingly prevalent in the construction industry, particularly where completion time is essential. A high adoption rate in some of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries countries and the lack of a conceptual understanding of the challenges inherent in such may jeopardize the future sustainability of the construction sector. To make an informed decision about adopting a fast-track construction method, it is necessary to first identify the opportunities and challenges associated with it. Therefore, this study examines the critical challenges impeding the performance of Qatar’s fast-track construction projects. The research findings were analysed and triangulated using a real-life project as a case study and several data sources. The results of the research identified four critical categories of barriers: design and coordination-related, scope or change orders-related, material and equipment-related, and contractual-related barriers. In addition, strategies such as accurate information, constructability assessment, early involvement of operations and maintenance personnel, and the use of an effective change control system were identified for addressing the identified challenges. The findings are beneficial to professionals who are currently operating or planning to undertake construction projects in Qatar or other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries countries. This study recommends that project managers be more attentive to key barriers in order to improve the performance of fast-track projects and to meet clients’ objectives.

Highlights

Increased competition among multinational, private, and government organisations in the construction industry and property market has gradually encouraged clients and project managers to take strong actions to maintain profitability while ensuring high quality standards, commitments, and timely completion of projects [1]
Adopting a fast-track project delivery approach has become popular in the construction sector and is presently being pressured to facilitate the successful delivery of this approach
Existing studies have shown the existence of knowledge gaps in the critical assessment of barriers to the management of fast-track projects in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, especially in Qatar

Summary

Introduction

Private, and government organisations in the construction industry and property market has gradually encouraged clients and project managers to take strong actions to maintain profitability while ensuring high quality standards, commitments, and timely completion of projects [1]. One way to achieve compressed project duration is via the fast-track construction delivery approach [3]. Fast-track construction, as suggested by Chen et al [3], provides avenues to overcome the challenges of high construction costs and inflation currently plaguing the sector. The fast-track approach in construction and engineering sectors leverages the ability to effectively overlap and manage activities in the design, procurement, and construction activities concurrently in order to compress the expected project schedule [1]. The growing acceptance and adoption of the fast-track project delivery approach by many clients in the construction sector is due to the high demand and competitive economic environment where modern business operates, providing pathways for rapid marketing of products or to the final point of consumption [4]. The fast-track project delivery approach has several benefits, such as accelerated project completion and reduced running costs, inadequate planning often causes delays, significant changes in scope, and, project cost overrun [5]

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Conclusion