Suitability of criteria for selecting a delay analysis technique suitable to analyse delays in road construction projects in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Delays in construction projects are inevitable and they are the most critical factor that affects the cost of a construction project. They have to be analyzed comprehensively using appropriate techniques so as to identify their impacts. This study was carried out to find out, the delay analysis techniques (DAT) that are used most commonly in road projects in Sri Lanka, the extent of their usage, problems that arises when they are used and the criteria for selecting a suitable technique. The research methodology adopted involved an extensive literature review, interviews and a questionnaire survey. The most commonly used DATSs were identified through the literature review and by interviewing four practitioners. A questionnaire survey was carried out among a group of 60 professionals selected through purposive sampling. It was found that five types of delay analysis techniques are mainly used in Sri Lanka to determine the delays encountered in road projects and the most commonly used such technique is the as-planned vs as-built analysis while the least used is the window analysis. The nonavailability of professionals to analyze delays is found to be the main problem and acceptance by courts and tribunals is the most important criteria (out of nine identified criteria) used in selecting a delay analysis technique.