Impact of schedule compression on successful delivery of Sri Lankan construction projects

Abstract

Scheduling is the most critical aspect to be considered in construction planning. When the project is slipping over its planned schedule, delay becomes reality. Delays in construction is one of recurring problem that can challenge on successful delivery of projects. Also delays are subjected to generate a considerable amount of financial losses to the contractors. Accordingly, if such situation is encountered the contractors are usually compelled to accelerate the projects. Previous researchers have stressed schedule compression as a commonly used approach to expedite the construction to recover lost time due to delay or to meet revised deadline during an extended project duration. However, when expedite the project, though the time saved, other performance parameters are often sacrificed for the sake of remaining ahead of the schedule. Therefore, this research aims to explore the impact of schedule compression on successful delivery of Sri Lankan construction projects. To accomplish the aim, ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts including Quantity Surveyors, Contract Administrators, Project Managers and Engineers. Subsequently, the gathered information was analysed rigorously through content analysis and explored that, acceleration through schedule compression creates negative, positive and neutral impacts on project performance parameters in terms of cost, quality and health and safety.