Critical Evaluation of Previous Delay Studies
It is vital to indicate clearly that the delay studies being critically
evaluated here are examples of the common approach of doing
delay studies. It is this approach to research that is being criticized,not delay studies in general, nor individual delay scholars and
their work.
The question considered here is as follows: What is the contribution
of delay studies to practically minimizing the causes
of delay?
The practical relevance of delay studies and their contribution to
solving problems are related to the recommendations that they
make. Table 3 summarizes these recommendations as follows:
31% of studies mention improving planning and control, whereas
four of the 16 (25%) recommend improving site management.
Improvements to human resource management are recommended
by 37.5% of the studies examined. Among other recommendations,
improving communication and collaboration between the parties,
improving financial support, and minimizing design changes are
suggested by 37.5, 37.5, and 19% of the studies, respectively.
The following subsections criticize existing studies on three
grounds. First, not all studies make practical recommendations.
Second, planning and control are found to be ineffective by the
majority of the studies, yet they typically do not recommend solutions
to this problem. Third, while a few studies do recommend
improvements, they do not identify the necessary tools to facilitate
them.