Dublin Core
Title
Exploring Key Factors Affecting Timely Project Completion in the Road Construction Industry: (A Case Study Of The Ghana Highway Authority)
Creator
Alfred N. Agyapong
Description
Project delay or untimely project completion is among the very critical or key challenges encountered during the course of any project implementation, being it building project, sewerage project or road project etc. Construction project delay is a global phenomenon in project delivery and has an impact on the otherwise success or failure of any project. In an attempt to tackle this problem, several authors have attempted by undertaking researches but have all yielded little or no significant solutions to the problem both locally and internationally. The issue of delay on construction project has frustrated development process in many nations, has had an immeasurable cost implication to government and the society as a whole, and also had led to loss of reputation of the contracting parties in the project execution. The purpose or objective of this study was to explore the key causes of construction project delays in the road sector of Ghana’s construction industry. The study went further to identify some of the key or important effects of construction delays on the project itself, the stakeholders and society as a whole and how the causes of delays on projects can be solved. In achieving the aim of the study, data were collected from a sample chosen from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Road and Highways, Ghana Highway Authority, Road Construction Firms and Consultants who are major stakeholders or players
of the road construction industry in Ghana. The study adopted a quantitative method of data analysis with a structured questionnaire made up of closed ended questions for data
collection. Respondents for the data collection were selected by the quota sampling technique. Out of eighty one (81) questionnaires distributed, Sixty (60) were retrieved from
respondents representing seventy four percent (74%) responsive rate. In determining the most important causes of delay in road construction projects, thirty (30) factors each was identified for study for objectives 1, 2 and 3, after which questionnaires
were administered and analysis done on the data gathered from questionnaire. For objective 4 to be met, two (2) different groups of factors were identified, the first group involved fifteen
(15) factors to assess the impact or effects of delays on projects while the second group involved twenty one (21) set of factors to examine the most viable solutions to the factors
causing delay on projects. The following are key causes of delay on road construction projects; Delays in honouring Payment Certificates for work done, client’s inadequate financial resources planning, inadequate feasibility studies on the project, underestimation of the project duration, underestimation of the cost of the project, lack of the required key technical staff by the
contractor, lack of the required equipment by the contractor, severe or bad weather encountered during construction and unfavourable site condition. Some of the key impact or effect of delay are as follows; cost overruns, time overruns, abandonment or termination of contract, stagnation in cash-flow to contractor and no value for- money achieved.
The solution identified for solving delays on road construction projects are as follows; Client should do proper budgeting with a financial plan to enable payment upon submission of payment certificates, initial proper planning of the works must be done to avoid delays, decision making by the client should be prompt, accurate estimation of the project duration at planning stage, contractors’ financial standing should be properly verified before being awarded a contractor. KEYS WORDS: Causes, delay, road, construction, projects, Ghana, contractors, timely,completion
of the road construction industry in Ghana. The study adopted a quantitative method of data analysis with a structured questionnaire made up of closed ended questions for data
collection. Respondents for the data collection were selected by the quota sampling technique. Out of eighty one (81) questionnaires distributed, Sixty (60) were retrieved from
respondents representing seventy four percent (74%) responsive rate. In determining the most important causes of delay in road construction projects, thirty (30) factors each was identified for study for objectives 1, 2 and 3, after which questionnaires
were administered and analysis done on the data gathered from questionnaire. For objective 4 to be met, two (2) different groups of factors were identified, the first group involved fifteen
(15) factors to assess the impact or effects of delays on projects while the second group involved twenty one (21) set of factors to examine the most viable solutions to the factors
causing delay on projects. The following are key causes of delay on road construction projects; Delays in honouring Payment Certificates for work done, client’s inadequate financial resources planning, inadequate feasibility studies on the project, underestimation of the project duration, underestimation of the cost of the project, lack of the required key technical staff by the
contractor, lack of the required equipment by the contractor, severe or bad weather encountered during construction and unfavourable site condition. Some of the key impact or effect of delay are as follows; cost overruns, time overruns, abandonment or termination of contract, stagnation in cash-flow to contractor and no value for- money achieved.
The solution identified for solving delays on road construction projects are as follows; Client should do proper budgeting with a financial plan to enable payment upon submission of payment certificates, initial proper planning of the works must be done to avoid delays, decision making by the client should be prompt, accurate estimation of the project duration at planning stage, contractors’ financial standing should be properly verified before being awarded a contractor. KEYS WORDS: Causes, delay, road, construction, projects, Ghana, contractors, timely,completion
Subject
MSc Engineering Project Management
Publisher
Ghana Technology University College
Date
September, 2016
Contributor
Dr. Michelle Afrifah