An important source of the information required is the development
and maintenance of construction programs. In particular, the critical
path method (CPM) form of program, which is now a key requirement
for the analysis of delay claims (Wickwire et al. 1989; Kallo
1996, Wickwire and Groff 2004). Advances in computers and the
rapid development of powerful programming software over the
years have made it practicable for far more rigorous analysis to
be undertaken than hitherto was the case. However, while the ease
of running the analysis has increased as a result, so has the accuracy
of programs decreased (Street 2000; Korman and Daniels 2003;
Lucas 2002). Many practitioners have thus expressed misgivings
about contractors’ programs (Mace 1990; Revay 2000; Owens
2003; Kursave 2003; Carmichael and Murray 2006; Lucas 2002),
criticizing them of often being poorly prepared and also not managed
effectively during the project. Programs with such deficiencies
do not constitute a valid basis for delay claims assessment
and would produce results that are deceivingly inaccurate, which
is a major source of the disputes surrounding claims settlement
(Pickavance 2005; Carmichael and Murray 2006).