Investigation into factors that determine building construction time performance

Abstract

This research explores the reasons why some buildings are constructed more quickly than others. Critical risk factors affecting project complexity and responses from construction managers to these risks are identified and tested. Construction time performance indicators are offered and 33 case studies of projects are analysed against identified benchmark criteria. Project complexity factors and managerial responses to these factors are also examined in-depth. The work draws upon the literature pioneered by others both in Australia and overseas. Much of the previous research into this topic was undertaken during the late 1970's and early 1980' s though reference is made to more current case history data drawn from reports undertaken in the UK and Australia (part of the Royal Commission into Productivity in the Building Industry in New South Wales in 1992, as well as a pilot study of 100 Australian building projects undertaken by Derek Walker in 1987). The principal propositions investigated in this work is that variance between actual performance to trend line performance can be substantially explained by managerial performance of the project team (more specifically the construction management team, client representative's team and to a more limited extent the communication effectiveness of the design teams). A limited number of factors outside the control of the construction management team (inherent site conditions, economic environmental complexity and project scope) also affects construction time performance. The research indicated that CM team performance plays a pivotal role in determining CTP. The work also revealed an important relationship between sound CR management effectiveness and good CTP. Detailed findings provide useful performance indicators that may be used to assist in defining benchmark measures necessary to assess a project's performance relative to a representative population. The objective of this work is to report upon the research undertaken as a contribution to the development of methodologies required to measure CTP and thus enable comparison of individual project performance against world best practice. Models are developed illustrating construction time performance of projects so that a better understanding of critical factors affecting construction time performance can be gained. The contribution that this work makes is that it assists in the development of measures that may be used for establishing best practice benchmark measures of construction time performance for use by builders and clients to improve construction time performance in the building industry.

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