Investigating Causes of Delays in Iranian Construction Industry According to Project Delivery Methods

ABSTRACT: Construction delays can be defined as the late completion of work compared to the planned schedule or contract schedule. Construction delays can be minimized only when their cause are identified. The objective of this study was to identify the major causes of construction delays and the effects of those delays in Iranian construction industry. Also in this research the relation between project delivery method and these delays has been discussed to achieve the best and most suitable method according to the situation in Iran. This study was carried out based on literature review and a questionnaire survey. A total of six groups were contributed to the identification of causes of construction delays including clients, contractors, consultants, public authorities, contractual relationship delay and external parties. The questionnaires were distributed to the target respondents in Iranian construction industry. The most important factors that contributed to the causes of delays were related to financial problems such as delay in progress payments by owner or difficulties in financing project by contractor. Alongside of these problems, the inflation has also high influence on delay and it is because of political and economical situation of Iran. Client-related delays were ranked the most significant groups that cause delays, followed by contractor-related delays, and public authorities-related delays. Time and cost overrun were the common effects of delays in construction projects and unfortunately most of Iranian companies did not pay attention to the causes of delay till they happened and usually they do not employ professional construction manager in this specific field during the construction phase of the projects. Keywords: Project Delivery Method, Delay, Iranian Construction Industry. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………