Project Delays Research Articles

An extensive examination of the barriers faced by contractors leading to project delays

Delays in the construction industry have continued over time, and its dynamics evolve with each generation, leading to significant differences in the sector. These delays stem from many factors disaggregated across various stakeholders, including contractors, owners, consultants and the workforce. However, this particular study focuses on the challenges and barriers faced by contractors specifically, which contribute significantly to project delays and, in some cases, even lead to project disruption. To comprehensively address this problem, a rigorous scientific research paper has been established. This paper aims to identify the key factors that contribute to project delays. It involved an extensive review of existing research, accumulating a wealth of data regarding the root causes of delay, and creating a comprehensive table highlighting 17 underlying factors commonly cited in previous studies. The factors affecting the construction industry were described and discussed. As this problem continued and worsened over time, this research effort was ultimately concluded by recommended to conduct another research study for more in-depth investigation and an attempt to confirm the provenance of those factors that constitute a major obstacle to contractors and project delays and to try to reach solutions. Radically to prevent these obstacles in the future to ensure the presence of those factors that were extracted and discussed through the research studies presented. The overarching goal was to reveal the underlying foundations of this major challenge facing the construction industry, enabling more effective mitigation and resolution strategies.

Unlocking the Potential of BIM and VR Integration to Address Construction Challenges in Malaysia’s Building Industry: A Literature Review

Delays in project completion, cost overruns, safety risks, and poor communication among project stakeholders are just some of the leading causes of the many problems plaguing Malaysian construction projects. The construction sector in this country is suffering from these significant problems, which could be remedied with the help of emerging technologies, including Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Virtual Reality (VR). Integrating Virtual Reality (IVR) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) may help avoid and resolve such problems during construction. The features allow for remote collaboration, enhanced communication and connection, enhanced immersion and interactivity, and reduced costs. This literature review exemplifies the challenge that arose on a construction site, as well as the potential of VR technology in general and its integration in assisting the construction industry in Malaysia with BIM. Based on the comprehensive analysis conducted, it is evident that the integration of BIM and VR presents a vast potential to alleviate and resolve the pressing construction-related challenges afflicting Malaysia’s construction industry. The effective integration of these innovative technologies can revolutionise the sector by mitigating cost overruns, reducing project delays, enhancing communication, and improving safety outcomes. Therefore, realising the potential and exploring the possibilities of BIM and VR integration is crucial to overcoming the issues and promoting sustainable growth in Malaysia’s construction sector.

Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Construction Management: Improving Project Efficiency and Cost-effectiveness

The construction industry faces challenges such as project complexity, delays, and communication issues. Leveraging AI, particularly through data analysis, predictive analytics, and machine learning, addresses these challenges by optimizing project planning, scheduling, and risk management. This paper outlines strategies for AI integration, including data collection, machine learning algorithms, and cloud computing. Case studies highlight successful implementations, showcasing benefits such as increased efficiency, cost savings, and improved safety. However, challenges like data security and workforce acceptance must be considered. The abstract concludes by discussing future trends and encouraging the construction industry to embrace AI for enhanced project outcomes.

Evaluasi Keterlambatan Proyek Pembangunan Jembatan Gantung Bangun Jawa I Kabupaten Serdang Bedagai

Delays in construction projects often result in losses for construction actors, and can be caused by internal, external, and other factors such as natural, management, material, and environmental disasters. Research was conducted on the Java I Construction Suspension Bridge project, Serdang Bedagai Regency to evaluate delays in terms of cost and time. The goal is to evaluate the schedule of the project plan and implementation and find out the cause. Evaluation using the Earned Value Management method shows that project implementation tends to be slow, but costs are still below budget with an estimated Rp. 2,454,274,500,- and 36 weeks. Delays are caused by the engineering justification process, late delivery of bridge trusses, and instability of service provider cash flow. This research is expected to provide a reference for construction actors to anticipate delays in other projects.

Analysis of Scheduling Acceleration of a Hospital Construction using the Precedence Diagram Method Combined with Fast Track and the Precedence Diagram Method Combined with Crashing Method

In general, the completion of a project must be in accordance with a binding contract agreement, but in its implementation, there can be obstacles that cause delays. Project delays can affect the results of weekly progress and the final results of the project and affect the performance appraisal of project implementers. Delays can be seen through the weekly progress of the program according to the schedule. Delays can be prevented by speeding up existing scheduling. This research aimed to conduct an acceleration analysis on the schedule using the fast track method and the crashing method and critical network analysis using the Precedent Diagram (PDM), then determine which method is appropriate according to this research. In this case study, there was a delay in the 18th week where the progress of the plan of 16.60% was only at 11.21% so there was a deviation of 5.4%. This delayed the duration of project completion from 366 days to 390 days. The analysis results obtained by applying the Fast-Track method can overcome delays by returning the schedule to the original plan, without any additional costs. The results of the analysis using the PDM method combined with the crashing method can make the duration faster than the plan duration, which was 359 days or 7 working days faster and the additional cost is about 1.02%. The fast track and crashing methods can be used as scheduling acceleration tools to overcome delays, but in financing, the fast track method is more cost-effective while the crashing method has additional costs. This research provides references and descriptions about the effects of using the fast track and crashing methods on projects.
 Keywords: project delays, schedule acceleration, critical network analysis

Implementation of Contractor Safety Management System (CSMS) PT. Waskita Karya on Rigid Pavement Subcontractor

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the application of Contractor Safety Management System (CSMS) and its compatibility between the administrative stage and implementation in construction projects, particularly focusing on the Kutanegara region in Indonesia. Recognizing the prevalence of work accidents and delays attributed to discrepancies in CSMS, the research seeks to assess the alignment between CSMS policies and their execution in the field. Methods: The research adopts a descriptive qualitative approach to evaluate the application of CSMS. Data collection employs triangulation, combining observation, interviews, and documentation review. Key informants, including main and supporting stakeholders, are selected through purposive sampling techniques to provide insights into CSMS implementation and its effectiveness in ensuring workplace safety and compliance. Results and Discussion: The evaluation of CSMS application reveals inconsistencies between administrative policies and their implementation in the field. Specifically, discrepancies are identified in the installation of vision, mission, and policy statements (16%), K3 signs and smoking bans (42%), warning signs and evacuation directions (53%), and the management of electrical panels and Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) procedures (37%). While these inconsistencies are categorized as minor, they highlight the need for continuous improvement and alignment between CSMS policies and practices to mitigate work accidents and delays effectively. Implications of the Research: The findings of this study have implications for construction project management and safety practices, emphasizing the importance of aligning CSMS policies with on-site implementation to enhance workplace safety and efficiency. By identifying discrepancies and areas for improvement in CSMS application, the research provides insights into strategies for enhancing safety protocols and reducing the risk of work accidents and delays in construction projects. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the existing literature by addressing the gap in research regarding the alignment between CSMS policies and their implementation in construction projects, particularly in the Indonesian context. By employing a qualitative approach and triangulating multiple data sources, the research offers valuable insights into the effectiveness of CSMS in ensuring workplace safety and compliance. The findings underscore the importance of continuous improvement and adherence to safety protocols in construction projects, ultimately enhancing the overall quality and efficiency of project delivery.

Power imbalances and equity in the day-to-day functioning of a north plus multi-south higher education institutions partnership: a case study

BackgroundPartnerships between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the global north and south have commonly been used as a vehicle to drive global health research and initiatives. Among these initiatives, include health system strengthening, research capacity building, and human resource training in developing countries. However, the partnership functioning of many global north-south partnerships still carry legacies of colonialism through unrecognized behavior patterns, attitudes, and belief systems in how they function. Even with research literature calling for a shift from equality to equity in the functioning of these partnerships, many still struggle with issues of complex and unspoken power dynamics. To understand the successes and challenges of north-south partnerships, this paper explored partnership development and functioning of a northern and multi-southern HEIs partnership focused on nutrition education and research.MethodsA qualitative research approach was used; data were collected through in-depth interviews (IDIs) with questions developed from the Bergen Model of Collective Functioning (BMCF). Thirteen IDIs were conducted with partners from all institutions including stakeholders.FindingsThe partnership was built on the foundation of experiences and lessons of a previous partnership. Partners used these experiences and lessons to devise strategies to improve partnership inputs, communication, leadership, roles and structures, and maintenance and communication tasks. However, these strategies had an impact on partnership functioning giving rise to issues of inequitable power dynamics. The northern partner had two roles: one as an equal partner and another as distributor of project funds; this caused a conflict in roles for this partner. The partners distinguished themselves according to partner resources – two partners were named implementing partners and two named supportive partners. Roles and partner resources were the greatest contributors to power imbalances and caused delays in project activities.ConclusionUsing the BMCF to examine partnership dynamics illuminated that power imbalances caused a hierarchical stance in the partnership with northern partners having overall control and power of decision-making in the partnership. This could impact the effectiveness and sustainability of project in the southern institutions going forward.

Heterogeneity in stakeholder's perceptions on delays in infrastructure projects: scenario of Bangladesh

PurposeIn Bangladesh (BD), delays in infrastructure are common. Many previous studies have explored the causes of infrastructure delays. However, this study investigated the causes of delays by taking responses from the stakeholders who are responsible for planning, design, funding, approval and implementation. There are few studies that have related infrastructure project delays to heterogeneity in stakeholders’ perceptions.Design/methodology/approachA structural equation (SE) model is developed with 350 normally distributed data points to understand the heterogeneity in stakeholders’ perceptions regarding delays in infrastructure projects in BD. Additionally, the relative importance index (RII) approach is used to assess the responses, validating the SE model.FindingsThe study finds that among the three latent variables, “Project itself related delay” has more influence on delays in infrastructure projects. Among the observed variables under the “project itself related delay” latent variable, “DPP approval process” has the most significance. From the heterogeneity analysis, the study found differences in responses among the stakeholders from “the Engineering Department,” “the Planning Office” and “the Construction Firm/Industry.” An important class of stakeholders believes that their stage is not being delayed and that other stages require attention.Research limitations/implicationsThe data sample is 350. More data can improve the accuracy of the findings. Most of the respondents are civil engineers (74%) and represent the owner of the project. Sample data from more stakeholders’ will enhance the accuracy of the result.Practical implicationsThis study addresses the requirements of Bangladeshi project stakeholders and how their interactions cause delays in projects. Furthermore, the opinions of other stakeholders are taken into consideration when determining the specific factors of individual stakeholders that are causing delays. Practically, the distance between stakeholders should be reduced. A project manager can play a role in this regard. Initiatives should be taken on how to complete the project quickly by eliminating the requirements discussed among the stakeholders and bureaucratic complications. Instead of placing blame on one another, stakeholders should take the initiative to figure out how to work together to finish the project on schedule. The Planning Commission’s approval of the Development Project Proposal (DPP) and Revised Development Project Proposal (RDPP) should be obtained as soon as possible by owner stakeholders. In order to avoid frequently changing the DPP, owners should also exercise greater caution when choosing contractors. Contractor stakeholders should use efficient and proper manpower and equipment so that unexpected delays are not created during the execution of work. Since the role of the contractor stakeholder is the most important among the three types of stakeholders, the contractor should raise awareness and urge the owners to get the RDPP approved quickly.Originality/valueThe findings from the study can help mitigate delays in infrastructure projects in BD, taking into account the perceptions of various stakeholders.

A three-stage solution approach with a repeated-negotiation mechanism for the decentralized resource-constrained multi-project scheduling problem

PurposeThis study develops a model and algorithm to solve the decentralized resource-constrained multi-project scheduling problem (DRCMPSP) and provides a suitable priority rule (PR) for coordinating global resource conflicts among multiple projects.Design/methodology/approachThis study addresses the DRCMPSP, which respects the information privacy requirements of project agents; that is, there is no single manager centrally in charge of generating multi-project scheduling. Accordingly, a three-stage model was proposed for the decentralized management of multiple projects. To solve this model, a three-stage solution approach with a repeated negotiation mechanism was proposed.FindingsThe experimental results obtained using the Multi-Project Scheduling Problem LIBrary confirm that our approach outperforms existing methods, regardless of the average utilization factor (AUF). Comparative analysis revealed that delaying activities in the lower project makespan produces a lower average project delay. Furthermore, the new PR LMS performed better in problem subsets with AUF < 1 and large-scale subsets with AUF > 1.Originality/valueA solution approach with a repeated-negotiation mechanism suitable for the DRCMPSP and a new PR for coordinating global resource allocation are proposed.

Development and implementation of Building Site Information Management (BUSIM) for Nigeria Building Industry

Overtime, building project delivery failures have been blamed on other factors except poor site management. Site management is considered by most building experts as off work-plan activities and as such attention is less giving to its process thereby creating delays in project. Also some others taken it serious have been shrouded with the manual process which in turn complicates the entire system. To solve this menace, the core objective of this paper is the development and deployment of cloud custom based building site information management system with emphasis on real time safety tracking, equipment maintenance tracking and management, materials management, site risk analytics and project progress report. The system is collaborative one and can be updated real time. To achieve the outcome, investigation into existing system was first carried out, as such, system failure were detected to upgrade the new system. However, in building the new system , suitable programming language that can give desired results were examined and Python 3.8 was utilized with Django 2.0.3 framework and Microsoft Visual Studio (MS VS) for the smooth running of programming languages. Due to Django having an ORM, supporting multiple databases, SQLite3 database, a simple database for lightweight applications was used. It is lightweight, fast for simple to medium applications. Results showed that BUSIM prototype app when applied not only will help in assessment of risk and real time overview for building site management, but will additionally improve the industry when adopted and applied to replace current manual process.

Factors Affecting Construction Delay in Residences

Construction projects in India are facing delays. It is essential to create a clear understanding among experts in the field and carry out an in-depth analysis of the causes of delays because the volume and capacity of the Indian construction sector have changed significantly over the past ten years. Construction delays have a considerable influence on residential projects budgets, schedules, and stakeholder satisfaction. Construction delays are a big issue in the residential construction industry since they increase costs, cause time delays, and disrupt quality. It is crucial to pinpoint the primary causes of these delays in order to reduce the effect they have on project performance. This research study attempts to give a thorough understanding of the factors that contribute to construction delays in residences. This study synthesises previous literature and research findings to investigate a number of factors, their interactions, and their influence on project delays. In order to properly manage and reduce construction delays in residential construction projects, the review underlines the relevance of recognising these aspects.

Practices and barriers for big data projects

The adoption of big data analytics is increasing in every major industry, demanding investments in new projects, technologies, architectures, and processes to allow the integration of big data platforms with legacy systems; however, many organizations have failed to incorporate it effectively into their decision-making processes and project benefits have not been adequately captured. This study aims to further investigate how a big data analytics project can be implemented in insurance companies. A case study was conducted on one of the largest insurance companies in Brazil with interviews and document analysis. The study identified five main practices that were adopted to successfully implement a big data analytics project (implement automatic autoscaling alerts, use specialized big data tools, integrate the platform with legacy systems, comply with privacy legislation, and ensure the documentation of technical architecture using business process modeling), as well as four barriers that prevent its proper adoption (complexity of access to multicloud data sources, high processing requirements of unstructured data analysis, failure to attend to business necessities at the right time, and project delays brought by bureaucratic interdepartmental processes); some of these have not previously been identified. Finally, an action plan to address these issues is presented.

Effects of Individual Client’s Competencies on Construction Project Performance: Mediating Participation Attitude and Partnership

Within a construction project, the clients are categorized as private individuals, private companies, public institutions, etc. In this research, the private client is identified as a non-professional individual building owner and is involved in making decisions and solving problems for successful construction project performance. However, irrational decision-making and conflicts frequently occur with project delay and poor performance because the individual clients are normally non-professionals and lack the capacity to lead various stakeholders on the project. This study analyzes the effects of the project managerial competencies of the private individual clients on the construction performance. The client’s competencies were defined as ‘personal’, ‘social’, and ‘professional’ factors, and participation attitude and partnership were used as the mediating factors. The offline survey was conducted with 241 building owners in South Korea. The result indicates that personal and professional competencies had a positive effect on project performance, whereas social competency did not have an effect. Personal competency had the greatest effect on participation attitude and partnership. Social and professional competencies had a positive effect on partnership, not participation attitude. Hence, this shows that the personal competencies of the building owner as the end user of the project related to cognition, planning, and decision-making are important for project success.

Analysing the Project Delay Causes and Improving Quality using Multi-Project Strategies

Numerous reasons for project delays from the viewpoints of the client and the contractor have only been somewhat studied. The aim of this paper is to recognize the delays' underlying causes and issues ways to reduce them considering the progress of the project. Consequently, 106 contractor-side experts and 82 client-side experts in project management were the subjects of this study. The clients and contractors gave the same importance to factors like poor communications and governmental approvals in projects that were successful (had a time delay of less than 10%). Similar mitigating techniques including rigorous project monitoring, skill development training, and effective logistics planning were advised. When projects were unsuccessful (with a time delay of more than 10%), they displayed a wide range of behaviours.

Enhancing Banking Sector Performance: Assessing IT Capabilities with COBIT 2019 Framework Analysis

The growth of Information Technology within companies has been following its advancements. However, the unattained objectives stem from inefficient transitional systems within the company, leading to inaccurate data and project delays, consequently hindering the fulfilment of corporate expectations. This study aims to offer developmental recommendations through the assessment of IT governance capabilities. The measured capabilities reveal that objectives within processes BAI03, BAI05, and APO03 are stagnant at level 2. The findings from these processes highlight areas for improvement that can be rectified by the company. The proposed enhancements align with recommendations focusing on transitional system development and monitoring to enhance data transition efficiency, thus establishing a monitoring system to mitigate errors resulting from inefficient data transitions.

Prototype Development of Final Year Project Management System to Monitor Student’s Performance

The university requires students to complete a comprehensive software development project in their final year of study in all Information Technology (IT) and Computer Science (CS) programmes, run by the Faculty of Computing & Multimedia (FCOM), Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia. As the number of students increases by semester, manual procedures for managing student projects become a major issue. Ineffective supervision and monitoring of student progress are more likely to occur as the number of students to supervise per lecturer also increase. This circumstance may contribute to an increase in the number of students who will fail to complete project development within the time frame specified. A log book is currently used to document meetings and discussions between supervisors and students. Although a detailed schedule has been proposed, a monitoring process that triggers specific actions to ensure all deadlines are met is required. The objective of this research is to improve project monitoring and supervision by developing a prototype of a web-based Final Year Project Management System (FYPMS). The initial prototype is built on the dashboard approach concept, where students can see their progress and lecturers can use this centralized system to monitor students' performance. This system’s users are divided into three groups: students, lecturers, and coordinators where they can communicate efficiently and effectively by using this system. By using the FYPMS, the faculty can look forward to better project management, improved supervision, fewer project delays, and a more efficient final year project process.

Beneficiaries of Frugal Practices and Public Building Projects Delivery in Southwest, Nigeria

Persistent challenges such as building failures, project delays, cost overruns, and abandoned projects in public university building projects have underscored the need for research into the factors that can mitigate these issues. This study primarily aims to evaluate the effect of beneficiaries of frugal practices (clients, consultants, contractors, suppliers, and end-users) on the delivery of these projects in Lagos, Ogun, and Osun States. Adopting a cross-sectional survey research design, primary data were collected using structured questionnaires from construction professionals in public universities across Lagos, Ondo, and Osun States in Southwest Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed, beginning with the purposive selection of states and universities, followed by stratified random sampling of 251 respondents from a population of 708 professionals. Data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to explore the relationships between variables. The findings reveal that stakeholders benefit in varying degrees from frugal practices. Especially, clients and contractors benefit positively from frugal practices while significantly suppliers and end users are not negatively imparted by the practice. End users and suppliers notably impact project delivery outcomes, particularly in cost performance, satisfaction levels, and adherence to timelines. Frugal practice exhibited the most substantial negative impact on end users, emphasizing the necessity of their involvement and satisfaction in project planning and execution. The study recommends that project managers and policymakers prioritize the active involvement of end users and maintain robust supplier relationships to enhance project performance.

Significant risks that trigger cost overruns and delays in urban rail projects: a typical case study of Vietnam

PurposeUrban rail projects are typically large-scale transport infrastructure projects (megaprojects) which have many potential risks that can influence the strategic goals of owners. However, there is a paucity of studies which explore the impact of risks on both “urban rail” project time and cost together considering quantitative assessments. Therefore, this paper focuses on investigating critical risks and quantifying such risk impacts on urban railway project schedule and cost in practice.Design/methodology/approachA combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods comprising semi-interviews with five experts and a questionnaire survey of 132 professional respondents is used. The data were modeled using Monte Carlo Simulation to predict the probability of project schedule and cost.FindingsThe results show that 30 risk variables are categorized into seven main groups which have significant impacts on both project time and cost. Outstanding five risk variables were highlighted as follows: (1) project site clearance and land compensation; (2) design changes; (3) physical project resources; (4) contractors’ competencies and (5) project finance. Such findings were supported by Monte Carlo simulation which predicted in the worst case that the project may suffer 11.03 months’ delays and have cost overrun with a contingency of US$287.68 million.Originality/valueThis study expands our knowledge about time and cost contingency of urban metro railway implementation across developing economies and particularly within the context of Vietnam. Policymakers will not only gain an understanding about risk structure but will also recognize the significant impacts of critical risk through risk impact modeling and simulation. Such an approach provides insights into risk treatment priorities for planners so that they can proactively establish suitable strategies for risk mitigation in practice.

Critical Risk Factors influencing Time Schedule of Residential Projects in Pakistan

Delays in residential construction projects are common issues in both developing and developed countries. This research aims to identify the key reasons behind these delays in Pakistan. When the projects run behind schedule, this can lead to problems such as exceeding the budget, reduced productivity at the construction site, and potentially lower quality work. The study involved a detailed survey using questionnaires that were addressed to industry professionals. Their responses were used to rank the critical factors causing delays. The most significant factors were found to be fluctuating material prices, financial challenges for contractors, underestimating project duration, poor site management, inexperienced contractors, ineffective project management, communication gaps among project stakeholders, shortage of skilled workers, changes in project design, unqualified contractors, and inadequate project planning. Identifying these critical factors through the Relative Importance Index (RII) method can help in addressing and preventing delays in Pakistan's construction projects, ensuring timely completion and better project outcomes in the future.

Analysis of Causes of Delays and Cost Overruns as Well as Mitigation Measures to Improve Profitability and Sustainability in Turnkey Industrial Projects

Delays and cost overruns in turnkey projects can lead to significant economic losses, disputes and even project abandonment. These facts negatively impact the environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies of companies involved in the project. In this paper, a bibliographic review was conducted to identify the leading causes of delays and cost overruns in turnkey industrial projects in the refining, gas and conventional electricity generation (RGE) sector and propose good practices to avoid or mitigate them. We identified 893 causes of delays and cost overruns and 147 mitigation measures. The causes and mitigation measures were grouped into eight categories based on the execution phases of an RGE project. A critical analysis was carried out to avoid duplication, and the result was evaluated by experts in turnkey project management, reducing the causes and mitigation measures to a final set of 103 and 49, respectively. The construction category showed the most significant influence on project delays and cost overruns, and this, together with the preliminary phase and project management categories, contributed to 60% of the identified causes. The findings of this study can help project managers improve the profitability of turnkey industrial projects, promoting innovation and sustainability within companies and society.