Systematic review of construction project delays in Kuwait

Abstract

Over the past two decades, numerous global studies, including those conducted in Kuwait, have focused on examining and understanding delays in construction projects. These investigations aimed to identify causes of delays and rank them based on their impact on project objectives. In pursuit of this research goal, the present study adopts a systematic approach to analyze construction delays, building on related previous research efforts. The primary objective of this analytical approach was to determine the most significant and influential causes of delays and investigate changes in these causes over the span of two decades, during which measures were taken to address delays. Through comprehensive analyses, the critical delay causes within the Kuwaiti construction industry were identified as: contractor site management incompetence, subcontractor-related challenges, design quality deficiencies, problems arising from the used contract, and supply chain disruptions affecting labor availability and construction materials. Additionally, the body of research on the subject was divided into two distinct groups: studies conducted before and after the year 2010. A comparative examination of the outcomes from these two groups revealed notable enhancement for internal site management delay sources, which involve direct management teams including contractors, supervisors, and owners, whereas the influence of external delay causes increased, primarily attributed to the impact of governmental regulations. To assess the dissimilarities between the results of these two groups, an ANOVA analysis was applied, affirming the presence of statistically significant differences. The study concludes by emphasizing key areas requiring further attention to effectively mitigate the causes of delays in construction projects. Moreover, the proposed analysis procedure holds potential applicability to other countries, serving as a valuable tool to augment the understanding of delay analysis within the construction domain on a broader scale.