An Investigation into the Risk of Construction Projects Delays in the UAE

Author(s):  
Omayma Motaleb ◽  
Mohammed Kishk

The growing rate of delays in project delivery is considered a major criticism of the construction companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This paper aims to investigate the causes and effects behind the delays pertaining to delivery of construction projects in the UAE. The study is exploratory in nature, and incorporates a pilot questionnaire survey and interviews. An extensive literature review indicates potential factors that have possible effects on construction completion delay. The questionnaire forms were sent to 50 construction companies. Thirty-five (70%) completed responses were received. Analysis of the survey data has revealed that about 42 potential causes and effects of delay relate to various groups of stakeholders. The results show the top fifteen factors relate to clients, project managers and finance aspects. It was found that cost and time overruns are the most significant effects. These results are in partial agreement with previous studies. The paper argues that the key determinant in ensuring project control is on-time project delivery. The results of the study can provide moderate support for a suggested hypothesis, through a framework of project success factors. It should be of high concern to knowledge managers in various roles and decision-makers.

Author(s):  
Omayma Motaleb ◽  
Mohammed Kishk

The growing rate of delays in project delivery is considered a major criticism of the construction companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This paper aims to investigate the causes and effects behind the delays pertaining to delivery of construction projects in the UAE. The study is exploratory in nature, and incorporates a pilot questionnaire survey and interviews. An extensive literature review indicates potential factors that have possible effects on construction completion delay. The questionnaire forms were sent to 50 construction companies. Thirty-five (70%) completed responses were received. Analysis of the survey data has revealed that about 42 potential causes and effects of delay relate to various groups of stakeholders. The results show the top fifteen factors relate to clients, project managers and finance aspects. It was found that cost and time overruns are the most significant effects. These results are in partial agreement with previous studies. The paper argues that the key determinant in ensuring project control is on-time project delivery. The results of the study can provide moderate support for a suggested hypothesis, through a framework of project success factors. It should be of high concern to knowledge managers in various roles and decision-makers.


The United Arab Emirates construction industry is beset with negative project performance outputs, such as defects, low productivity, delay in completion, and higher costs. Most critical among the recorded reasons for having these undesirable outputs is the engagement of unskilled craft workers. However, the demand for construction projects in the UAE is continually increasing, especially after Dubai won hosting of Expo 2020, as this consequently translates to increased demand for skilled construction craft workers, if optimal project delivery performance must be achieved. Therefore, subject matters related to skillfulness and productivity of construction craft workers become research windows for academic scholars and industry investigators in the UAE built environment. The main purpose of this study is to explicate the reasons behind employment of unskilled craft workers in the construction projects from the management level perspective. To meet this purpose, the authors conducted in-depth interview with construction project managers. The results show number of reasons why unskilled craft workers are been hired and the effect of specialized certificates on hiring the craft workers


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13085
Author(s):  
Jan Kowalski ◽  
Mieczysław Połoński ◽  
Marzena Lendo-Siwicka ◽  
Roman Trach ◽  
Grzegorz Wrzesiński

Exceeding the approved budget is often an integral part of the implementation of construction projects, especially those where unforeseen threats may occur. Therefore, each construction investment should contain elements of risk forecasting, mainly in terms of the cost of its implementation. Only a small number of institutions apply effective cost control methods, taking into account the specifics of a given industry. Especially small construction companies that participate in the structure of the implementation of large construction projects as subcontractors. The article presents a method by which it is possible to determine, with certain probability, the final cost of railway construction investments carried out in Poland. The method was based on a reliable database of risk factors published in sources. In this article, the main presumptions of the original method are presented, which take into account the impact of potential, previously recognized, risks specific to railway investments, and enable project managers to relate them to the conditions where the implementation of a specific object is planned. The authors assumed that such a relatively simple method, supported by a suitable computational program, would encourage teams that plan to implement railway projects to use it and increase the credibility of their schedules.


Author(s):  
Lana Lovrenčić Butković

Abstract Due to the wide range of opportunities, collaborations, and challenges offered by the international construction sector, interest in international construction is on the rise. Construction companies must be able to carry out international construction projects (ICPs) more effectively and efficiently. However, executing ICPs is more challenging than executing domestic construction projects. Considering the peculiarities of the construction industry and the associated complexity of construction projects, construction companies should decide on international capability and the selection of an ICP through a careful evaluation of their critical success factors (CSFs). Most of the previous research deals with the concept of CSFs in the context of project management in general, but few studies have identified CSFs for ICPs. To fill that gap in current research, the main objective of this study was to identify and group CSFs for ICPs. A total of 37 CSFs were identified after conducting a detailed literature review and a pre-pilot study. A new framework of CSFs for ICPs was proposed following primary research, which was conducted through in-depth interviews with leading experts in international projects. Although the constructability/complexity factor of the project received the highest rating in terms of importance to the success of the ICP, the next most critical factors were found to be external factors, such as local contractor/subcontractor, investor, and presence of a foreign partner. The results of this research may help participants involved in ICPs to improve their understanding of the international construction environment and deliver more successful ICPs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-227
Author(s):  
Benedict Amade ◽  
Cosmas Ifeanyi Nwakanma

Abstract This study presents a fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) analysis of the internet challenges of the internet of things (IoT) implementation of construction projects in Nigeria. The identification of the IoT challenges was carried out through a thorough literature search and discussions with 27 built environmental experts. In addition, DEMATEL, an expert judgement-based tool, was used to pick, design, and evaluate a structural model consisting of a causal relationship between defined IoT challenges. Subsequently, the fuzzy DEMATEL was deployed with a view to constructing a structural relationship between the various challenging factors by visualising the dynamic associations between them. Based on the findings of the literature survey and expert evaluation, 18 obstacles to the implementation of IoT in construction projects were classified into cause and effect classes based on their relative parameters of impact. The results suggest that 8 challenges were categorised into the cause group, while 10 were listed into the impact group. The results of this study will enable construction companies, construction industry experts, project managers in Nigeria to enhance their search to design and execute an effective and productive IoT application for their construction projects.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Behnam Neyestani ◽  
Joseph Berlin P.

Total quality management (TQM) is a management philosophy that emphasizes on non-stop quality improvement within all aspects of the organizations. Its main aims are to satisfy customers and survive in the market. Thus, it is very vital to specify the factors that cause implementing TQM successfully. Specially, the identification of the TQM critical success factors (CSFs) is more important in the construction firms than other industries, because the majority of construction organizations are confusing related to TQM CSFs, and often they do not develop a proper framework with right and essential factors for TQM implementation. Numerous studies showed construction companies usually fail to implement TQM and achieve performance excellence at project and enterprise levels. The main purpose of this study is to determine these factors as critical success factors of TQM implementation in construction industry. For this aim, the study carried out an extensive literature review to specify the most frequently used CSFs from TQM frameworks of 37 empirical studies in different industries, in order to propose a set of appropriate TQM CSFs. So, Pareto analysis was employed to analyze comprehensively the 37 TQM frameworks. Finally, the findings of this study revealed the seven CSFs, which are as most vital elements in developing an effective model for successful TQM implementation in construction industry.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-243
Author(s):  
Manuel Alexander Silverio-Fernández ◽  
Suresh Renukappa ◽  
Subashini Suresh

Purpose The decentralisation of information and high rate of mobile content access in the construction industry provide an ideal scenario for improvement of processes via the implementation of the paradigm of the Internet of Things (IoT). Smart devices are considered as the objects interconnected in the IoT; therefore, they play a fundamental role in the digital transformation of the construction industry. Currently, there is a lack of guidelines regarding the implementation of smart devices for digitalisation in the construction industry. Consequently, this paper aims to provide a set of guidelines for implementing smart devices in the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach An empirical study was performed in the UK and the Dominican Republic (DR). Following a systematic approach, qualitative data collection and analysis was performed based on semi-structured interviews involving professionals from construction companies in the UK and the DR. Interviews were recorded and subsequently transcribed using Microsoft Word and exported to the software NVivo, where the software was used to find common thematic nodes across all interviews. Findings The findings encompass drivers, challenges and critical success factors (CSFs) for implementing smart devices in construction project. For both countries, the top five CSFs were leadership, staff training, culture, technology awareness and cost of implementation. These findings were used to develop a strategic framework for implementing smart devices in construction companies. The framework establishes the actors, elements and actions to be considered by construction companies when implementing smart devices. Originality/value This paper provides a richer insight into the understanding and awareness of implementing smart devices. A strategic framework for implementing smart devices in the construction industry and providing guidelines for adopting smart devices in construction projects was developed and validated. This study provides a better understanding of the key factors to be considered by construction companies when embedding smart devices into their projects.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 205-226
Author(s):  
Bon-Gang Hwang ◽  
Xiaojing Zhao ◽  
Jane Lim

Purpose Green building is a promising approach to improve resource efficiency and achieving sustainable development. The success of green construction projects is closely associated with the performance of project managers (PMs), while job satisfaction plays a major role in the performance of PMs. However, the emphasis placed on the job satisfaction of PMs in green construction projects remains minimal. The purpose of this paper is to identify the relationships between the job satisfaction of PMs and its key influencing factors in green construction projects, and to propose feasible strategies to improve the job satisfaction of PMs. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey is conducted, data collected from 105 construction PMs are analysed using structural equation modelling. Interviews with five industry experts are further conducted to substantiate the results. Findings The results identified four major components of job satisfaction, namely, “job content”, “resource adequacy”, “work context” and “the personality and competence of jobholders”. The analysis also found that “technical requirement” and “split incentive” condition of green construction projects, “the expertise and awareness of PMs” and “demand and support from stakeholders” has significant impacts on PMs’ job satisfaction. Furthermore, this study developed eight strategies to improve PMs’ job satisfaction, including “increase recognition opportunities for PMs”, “government incentives and financial support” and “introductory and training courses on green construction legislation and processes”. Originality/value The findings assist construction companies in formulating measures to improve the job satisfaction and performance of PMs in green construction projects.


2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Yang ◽  
Geoffrey Qiping Shen ◽  
Manfong Ho ◽  
Derek S. Drew ◽  
Albert P. C. Chan

With a focus on different aspects of stakeholder management, various sets of critical success factors (CSFs) have been suggested in the literature. It is crucial to explore the relative importance and groupings of these factors. This paper aims to identify CSFs associated with stakeholder management in construction projects, and explore their ranking and underlying relationship. 15 CSFs were identified through a literature review, and consolidated by interviews and pilot studies with professionals in construction industry. A questionnaire instrument containing these 15 CSFs was sent out to project managers in Hong Kong, and 183 completed questionnaires were retrieved. The top three ranked factors for stakeholder management were “managing stakeholders with social responsibilities”, “assessing the stakeholders’ needs and constraints to the project”, and “communicating with stakeholders properly and frequently”. Using factor analysis and considering the high importance of the factor “managing stakeholders with social responsibilities”, the 15 CSFs were grouped into five dimensions namely, precondition factor, stakeholder estimation, information inputs, decision making, and sustainable support. All these five groupings and their relationship were included in a framework for successful stakeholder management in construction projects. These findings help to clarify what the high prioritized factors are, and could also be used as an assessment tool to evaluate the performance of stakeholder management and thus help to identify areas for improvement. Santrauka Atsižvelgiant į skirtingus suinteresuotųjų šalių valdymo aspektus, literatūroje siūlomi įvairūs kritinių sėkmės veiksnių (KSV) kompleksai. Svarbiausia yra sugrupuoti šiuos veiksnius ir nustatyti jų santykinį reikšmingumą. Šio straipsnio tikslas – nustatyti KSV, susijusius su suinteresuotųjų šalių valdymu statybos projektuose, išnagrinėti jų prioritetus ir pagrindinius tarpusavio ryšius. 15 KSV buvo nustatyta remiantis literatūros analize, statybos šakos profesionalų apklausomis ir eksperimentinėmis studijomis. Projektų valdytojams Honkonge išsiųstas klausimynas ir gauti 183 atsakymai. Trys aukščiausiai įvertinti veiksniai: projektų dalyvių socialinė atsakomybė, suinteresuotųjų šalių poreikių ir apribojimų įvertinimas, tinkamas ir dažnas bendradarbiavimas su suinteresuotomis šalimis. Naudojantis veiksnių analize ir atsižvelgiant į tai, kad socialinės atsakomybės rodiklis vertinamas kaip labai reikšmingas, 15 KSV suskirstyti į 5 grupes: išankstinių veiksnių, suinteresuotųjų grupių nustatymo, informacijos rinkimo, sprendimų priėmimo ir subalansuotos paramos. Visos šios grupės bei jų ryšiai buvo įtraukti į sistemą, skirtą sėkmingam suinteresuotųjų šalių valdymui statybos projektuose. Šie duomenys padeda paaiškinti, kokiems veiksniams suteikiamas prioritetas ir gali būti naudojami suinteresuotųjų šalių valdymo įgyvendinimui įvertinti bei tobulintinoms sritims nustatyti.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 337-359
Author(s):  
Helmut Wanivenhaus ◽  
Jure Kovač ◽  
Anja Žnidaršič ◽  
Igor Vrečko

Although research interest in project management is increasingly directed at analyzing development trends in different business environments, the public sector in this respect has received surprisingly little intention. This paper analyzes the perception of the relevance of particular project management critical success factors among project managers and other project stakeholders in the public sector with relatively high organizational project management maturity. The main focus of research is the city of Vienna and its construction projects. An extensive quantitative survey showed the changing perceptions of the key projects’ success factors—namely, strengthening the importance of developing soft skills and stakeholders’ management.


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