Time-Cost Optimization of Kenya Government Construction Projects Delivery: The Case of Kenya Roads Board

Abstract

Every human activity utilizes time, but time is limited in. This means that the supply of time is perfectly inelastic and due to its nature, need for optimal utilization of time is imperative. Therefore, the timely completion of construction projects is considered one of the most important factors referring to project success. The literature reviewed in this paper is on time-cost optimization of Kenya government construction projects delivery by the Kenya Roads Board. The objectives of the literature review include finding out the time-cost optimization techniques used by Kenya Roads Board for the delivery of the government construction projects, examining how the construction time and Cost Management affects the delivery of Kenya government construction projects by the Kenya Roads Board, establishing the relationship between time and cost on the delivery of Kenya government construction projects by the Kenya Roads Board and identifying the time-cost optimization challenges affecting the delivery of Kenya government construction projects by the Kenya Roads Board. The theories that inform this study include system theory, Pareto Principle and the Triple Constraint Theory. The proposed study will apply a descriptive survey design which is deemed appropriate for this research because it can be used to obtain information concerning the current status of events and to describe what exists with respect to variables or conditions in a unique situation. The findings literature review established that the common causes of time and cost overruns in government construction projects is the incompetence of contractors before, lack of client’s commitment to finance projects in timely manner, owing to the outdated procurement processes utilized and corruption on the part of officers involved. The common techniques used in the time-cost optimization for construction projects include PERT, genetic algorithm, Critical Path Method. There are little attempts which have been made with regards to the time-cost optimization in Kenyan government road construction projects. Hence, there is need for a study to be done to examine the time-cost optimization in Kenyan government road construction projects.