The results support the view in literature that the programming
process involves many different parties, most of whom are staff
within the construction company. Their degree of involvement
varies, which is also consistent with the notion that programming
efforts are discharged at different rates by different parties (Laufer
and Tucker 1988; Laufer et al. 1993). Planning engineers and
project managers appear to make more significant inputs than the
other participating parties, with the least involvement coming fromthe client, which suggests that program generation is still much the
responsibility of contractors. Although most contracts tend to follow
this position, the little involvement of clients is probably one of
the reasons responsible for the frequent rejection of contractors’
programs by clients (Zafar and Rasmussen 2001). A program rejection
or any delay in its approval may put the contractor in a very
difficult position when faced with the need to substantiate early
delay claims and similar difficulties to the client’s representative
in assessing the same. On the other hand, timely approval of programs
has the potential of facilitating quick resolution of delay
claims and helps avoid all difficulties that go with resolving
them long after the delaying events, as is often recommended
(SCL 2002). Therefore, to improve the delay-claims resolution process,
it is important for clients to get more involved with program
development, as this will help clarify issues with the program
quickly, thereby reducing the possibility of its rejection or delay
in approving it.