Anyone who has got a rework or renovation work done in their house can tell you what a troublesome activity it is. Not only that, it seems to take forever to be completed and is heavy on the wallet. Even an international icon like the Sydney Opera house, which has always been Australia’s pride, was delayed by 10 years with its budget shooting up by 14.5 times its estimated budget of $7 million. There are plenty of such examples available. It is very common for construction projects to get delayed and outrun their budget. This is a tough scenario faced by almost all projects around the world, with India not being an exception. Thus, the researcher has undertaken this research to investigate the factors responsible for delays and cost overruns. Both secondary research and primary research have been carried out and the barriers have been identified. Such barriers create problems that hinder the efficiency and progress of a project, making it lag behind its schedule. The factors identified in the secondary research are compared to the findings of the primary research to see if they hold true in the Indian context.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Background
1.3 Research aims and Question
1.3.1 Research aim
1.3.2 Research Question
1.4 Organization of the study
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Basic concepts of a project and project management
2.3 Aligning the project with the business strategy
2.4 Assessing the project
2.5 Project implementation
2.6 Factors causing delays in the construction industry
2.6.1 Lack of commitment
2.6.2 Inefficient site management
2.6.3 Poor site coordination
2.6.4 Improper planning
2.6.5 Lack of clarity in project scope
2.6.6 Lack of communication
2.6.7 Sub-standard contract
2.7 Summary
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research philosophy
3.1.1 Epistemological considerations
3.1.2 Ontological considerations
3.1.3 Axiological Considerations
3.2 Research approach
3.3 Research method
3.4 Research design and strategy
3.5 Time Horizon
3.6 Research instrument
3.7 Sampling
3.8 Data analysis
3.9 Ethical concerns
3.10 Summary
CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Factors identified
4.2.1 Problems related to government and authorities
4.2.2 Problems related to the contractor
4.2.3 Problems related to labor
4.2.4 Problems related to materials and equipment
4.2.5 Problems related to design
4.2.6 Problems related to finance
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION
5.1 Limitations of the study
5.2 Potentials of the study
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This research aims to investigate the factors responsible for project delays and cost overruns within the Indian construction industry. By comparing existing project management literature with primary qualitative data collected from industry professionals, the study seeks to determine if global project management barriers are applicable in the Indian context.
- Analysis of project management success factors in the construction industry.
- Identification of common causes for project delays and budget overruns.
- Evaluation of the applicability of international management models in India.
- Exploration of unique challenges such as regulatory hurdles and labor issues in India.
- Assessment of the role of management experience in mitigating construction project risks.
Excerpt from the Book
2.6.1 Lack of commitment
A construction process requires many parties working together and syncing their activities in a perfect rhythm. Thus, commitment is a very important factor that plays a big role (Iyer and Jha, 2005). This factor consists of four attributes.
The first one is lack of safety measures leading to site accidents. Accidents not only harm the individual who is the victim but also hampers the productivity of everyone around him, causing delays in the construction work and wasting resources in training the replacement worker. All this can be avoided if the contractor and the project manager show commitment in ensuring availability of adequate safety equipment and making the necessary arrangements (Thakur & Kaveri, 2012).
The second attribute is that the contractors have no incentive to finish the project earlier than scheduled. They have no incentives to finish the work before hand and also no negative incentives if the work gets delayed. A solution to this problem can be a bonus for the contractor is the work gets over before hand and a fine if the work is delayed, so that the contractor is put on a spot (Pounds, 2008).
Use of improper or outdated construction methods, is another major attribute, which shows lack of commitment and unprofessionalism again from the side of the project manager and the contractor. This compromises the quality and safety standards, in turn, hampering the productivity and delaying the construction project leading to cost overruns (Doloi, Sawhney, Iyer et al., 2012).
The fourth attribute is delays in material delivery by vendors. This shows lack of commitment in the contractor’s planning activities, as if the materials are not delivered in time, a shortage of materials will be caused, leading to delay in the schedule and cost overruns (Kadir et al., 2005).
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION: This chapter provides the research background, highlights the importance of the construction industry in India, and defines the research aims and question.
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW: This section reviews existing project management concepts and examines identified barriers to construction projects, creating a theoretical framework for the study.
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY: This chapter details the interpretivist research philosophy, qualitative method, and exploratory research strategy adopted to conduct the study.
CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS: This chapter presents the primary research results derived from expert interviews and compares them with the literature to validate or challenge existing theories.
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION: This chapter synthesizes the research findings, confirms or extends the literature, and discusses the study's limitations and future potential.
Keywords
Construction industry, India, project management, cost overruns, project delays, infrastructure, qualitative research, project success, management challenges, stakeholder coordination, site management, labor productivity, regulatory approval, risk management, business strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research?
The research focuses on identifying and analyzing the factors that lead to delays and cost overruns specifically within the Indian construction industry.
What are the central themes of the work?
Key themes include project management efficiency, the impact of local Indian regulations, labor challenges, financial management, and the alignment of project execution with business strategies.
What is the primary research question?
The central question is whether the barriers to success identified in international project management literature hold true when applied to the context of the Indian construction industry.
Which research methodology does the author utilize?
The author employs a qualitative research methodology based on an interpretivist philosophy, utilizing semi-structured interviews with five project development experts to gather subjective insights.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The body consists of a comprehensive literature review followed by a primary research analysis, where the researcher identifies six specific factors causing delays, including government/regulatory, contractor, labor, material, design, and financial issues.
What define the key characteristics of this research?
The research is characterized by an exploratory design, the use of grounded theory to develop explanations, and a focus on Indian-specific socio-economic and institutional conditions.
How does the research address the role of government in construction delays?
The findings indicate that government-related issues, such as complex multi-departmental approvals, corruption, and the lack of single-window clearance, are inevitable causes of delay that managers cannot easily mitigate.
How is the issue of labor in India described?
The study highlights a combination of low-skilled labor, cultural absenteeism during festivals, and the inadequacy of the piece-wage system, which collectively impact both productivity and quality.
Why did the researcher choose to conduct interviews?
Interviews were selected as the primary instrument because they allowed for the collection of deep, subjective insights from experienced professionals that standardized questionnaires or quantitative methods could not provide.
What is the significance of the researcher's background in the study?
The researcher's personal interest in establishing a property development business in India provided the motivation to gain deep, practical knowledge of the industry's real-world barriers.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Kushal Agrawal (Autor:in), 2013, A study investigating the factors that cause delays and cost overruns in construction projects in India, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/265883
