Synthesis of Delay Studies
Many researchers have striven to identify the causes of delay in
construction projects in various countries. Most of the available
studies of construction delay in developing countries are listed
in Table 1, whereas Table 2 lists the most frequently identified
delay causes. It can be seen that many of these are management
related. Ineffective planning and control is a factor identified in
most studies (87%), with variation from one to another only in
the degree of importance. Poor site management (56%) and problems
of supply and procurement (69%) are also widely identified asmajor causes of delay. Delays in the delivery of materials, damage
to urgently needed materials, and late procurement, which are all
related to poor project management, also occur widely. Taken together,
these findings indicate that the fault lies either with those
responsible for planning and management, or with the planning and
management techniques themselves. In either case, it is apparent
that the project planning and management system has an important
role in the attempt to overcome delay. Another cluster of problems
leading to delays covers labor shortage, problems in material supply,
and financial difficulties, all related to the immaturity of the
economy, financial institutions, and labor market in a developing
country. These are external factors that have to be taken as a given
in any project.
It has to be stressed that identifying the causes of delay that have
controllable effects and the extent to which these effects can be
minimized is the main contribution of delay studies from a managerial
viewpoint. Therefore, the focus here is on the internal causes
of delay related to contractors’ management. External factors, such
as environmental causes and those related to the supply chain, can
be handled only at the level of the whole economy and in the long
term. What can be changed in the shorter term and in individual
projects are management and related factors.