Causes of Delay and Time Overeun in Project Execution

This study is to identify the major causes of delay and time overrun in project execution. Delay is one of the biggest problems often experienced on construction project sites. Delays can cause negative effects such as increase d costs, loss of productivity and revenue, lawsuits

between owners and contractors and could result to contract termination. From literature survey, more than thirty causes were identified

INTRODUCTION

Project execution is burdened with a lot of challenges, among which is delay and time overrun.

It has been researched, that delay is a major setback in the construction industry. The problem of delays in the construction industry is a global phenomenon. Odeyinka and Yusuf (1997) observed that the performance of the construction industry in Nigeria in terms of time was poor.

Lo Fong and Tung (2006) defines delay as slow down of work without stopping construction entirely, which can lead to time overrun either beyond the contract date or the date both parties have agreed upon for the delivery of the project.

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In construction term delay refers to something happening at a later time than planned, expected and specified in the contract or beyond the date agreed upon for the delivery of the project (pickavance 2005). While time overrun is as a result of delay when the duration of the project is extended, it result to time overrun.

CATEGORIES OF DELAYS IDENTIFIED IN THE LITERATURE

1. Excusable but non-compensable delay,
   caused by occurrences which are not attributable to any of the parties.
2. Compensable delay, resulting from acts or omissions of the owner or someone for whose acts an owner is liable.
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3. Inexcusable delay resulting from a contractor or his subcontractors' fault or from

Some of the identified causes of delay in construction projects include;

• Changes in designs
• Lack of funds to finance the project
• Lack of effective communication among the parties involved
• Fluctuation in prices of building materials
• Bad weather conditions, etc.

Some of the identified causes of time overrun in projects execution include;

• Rework due to Changes in designs
• Poor site management
• Unrealistic project duration given by client
• Bad weather condition
• Incomplete drawing details
• Delay in progress payment by clients,
• Inaccurate planning and scheduling of projects by contractors,
• Unavailability of experienced technical staff
• Excessive work in hand of the contractors
• Delay in approving extra work and variation

Conclusion

Odeyinka and Yusif (1997) affirmed that poor site supervision, weather conditions and conflicts were major causes of time overrun. Time is factor that is very essential in all activities that has to be carried out, in the contract document a specific time phase is given for delivery of project and if the time is being exceeded more money is often spent. Also delay can lead to reduced profit for builder and abandonment of building project by the client.

References

1.  Alade, K. T (2016) Delays in Projects in Alure. FUTA Journal of Management and Technology, Nigeria Maiden Edition, p 29-38,
2. Owolabi J. D., Amusan L. M. Oloke C. O, Olusanya O, Tunji O., Owolabi D., Peter J., Omuh I., (2014) International Journal of Education and Research Vol. 2 No. 4
3. Odeyinka, H. A. and Yusif, A. (1997), "The causes and effects of construction delays on completion cost of housing projects in Nigeria", Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 31-44.