Stakeholders' Perception of the Causes and Effects of Construction Delays on Project Delivery

The growing rate of delays is adversely affecting the timely delivery of construction projects. This study therefore assesses construction stakeholders’ perception of the causes of delays and its effects on project delivery in a bid to proffer solution in minimizing the occurrences of delays. Questionnaire was used to elicit responses from construction stakeholders; a total of thirty three causes of delays, seventeen resultant effects of delays and fifteen methods of minimizing construction delays were identified for the study based on literature reviews. The results suggest that client’s cash flow related problems are the ma in causes of delays while time and cost overruns are the major identifiable effects of delays in construction projects. However, adequate project planning and budgeting were suggested as possible ways of minimizing the occurrences of delays. Keywords: Cost; Delay; Project delivery; Stakeholders; Time I. I NTRODUCTION EVIEWDelay is a pervasive phenomenon in construction project delivery. It is branded as the most common, costly and risky problem encountered in construction project with a debilitating effect on the parties to a contract [1]. It creates adversarial relationships, distrust, litigation, cash-flow problems, project abandonment and general feeling of apprehension towards each other [2]; [3]. Delays frequently occur in all phases of construction projects and have been seen as inevitable [4]; [5] which consequently results in cost and time overruns [6]. It is seen as the most prolific factor affecting project performance [7]. The demand of construction clients for the timely delivery of construction projects and the susceptibility of projects to delays and cost overruns has attracted the attention of researchers all over the world, most of who tried to identify the immediate as well as the root causes of project delay. However, despite the various study and investigation into the causes of delays, it has continued to be a deadly monster which plagues the construction industry. The objective of this paper is therefore to evaluate construction stakeholders’ perception of the major factors that causes delay in construction projects, evaluate the effects of delays on construction project delivery and to devise a method by which these effects on delays on construction project delivery could be minimized in stakeholder’s perception. This is envisioned to help the stakeholders: construction clients, contractors and consultants to understand the dynamics of delays associated with construction projects. II. L