What Leads to Project Delays?
01 Aug 2015
8 Min Read
Editorial Team
K SRINIVAS and B RAVINDER present the results of a study on causative factors for time and cost overruns in an infrastructure project by ANOVA.
Managing risks is a strategic tool to reap the full benefits of the critical initiatives implemented in any organisation. Organisations that have implemented good risk management practices tend to reap the maximum advantage. This paper focuses on the study carried out for an infrastructure project by considering six major causes in various phases of the project regarding cost and time overruns and tried to determine the factor responsible for the inordinate delay of the project. This study was carried out by considering various elements under each of the identified major causes; for each major cause, a hypothesis was assumed and subjected to single-factor Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) by using an SPSS tool. The results showed that each identified factor under a major cause was equally responsible for cost and time overruns and that all the factors were interdependent, ie, the effect of delay in a factor would have a chain effect on other factors too.
Introduction
Risk is a variable associated with the implementation of a specific project with the potential to adversely affect the implementation of a project or interest of stakeholders. An infrastructure project by its very nature is more prone to risks than ordinary industrial projects. A crucial aspect of a successful infrastructure project development is, therefore, suitable identification, assessment, monitoring and control of risks.
In the current environment, value of money is accorded top priority by many construction organisations. However, the required value from project investment is not being recovered owing to their inability to deliver the objectives of the project, the prime factors being cost and time overruns. While risk owing to internal factors can be foreseen and minimised, risks owing to external factors, which cannot be comprehended easily and for which there is no contingency planning, will have a debilitating effect on the viability of the project. A study conducted by KPMG-PMI in 2012 reported that organisations that consistently adopted effective risk management practices were much better equipped to face the risks and produced results much better than traditional cost control measures.
Methodology
Six major causes along with relevant elements that could be contributors to that cause were identified and distributed as a structured questionnaire to 250 respondents who were either stakeholders or had knowledge of the project. Responses were received from 100 respondents. The six causes and the grading given in the questionnaire for each cause is given in Table 1. Each of the seven identified causes along with relevant factors was subjected to a single-factor ANOVA test using SPSS tool. In all the seven cases, the null hypothesis was assumed, that there is no difference of means between the factors responsible for a major cause and alternate hypothesis was, there is difference of means between the factors. If the result gives value of F less than Fcritical, we accept the null hypothesis and the means of the populations are equal and in case, F is greater than Fcritical, alternate hypothesis is accepted, ie, there is difference of means of the population.
Conclusion
- In all the six cases, the value of F was less than Fcritical, which implies that null hypothesis has been accepted, ie, there is no difference of means of the population (factors relevant to a cause).
- The value of F was less than Fcritical, which implied that each factor had equal potential to cause the time or cost overrun and that all factors were dependent, ie, delay in one factor can have a chain effect on the factors, also leading to delay in project schedule.
About the Authors:
K Srinivas and Bonniga Ravinder are Assistant Professors at NICMAR, Hyderabad.
Table 1: THE CAUSES AND GRADING |
Identifi ed cause |
Grading of responses |
1) Factors susceptible to increase in cost |
High |
Moderate |
Low |
2) Extent of impact on project schedule in execution and
closing phase |
High impact |
Moderate impact |
Low impact |
3) Cost overruns in pre-execution phase |
Strongly agree |
Agree |
Strongly disagree |
4) Impact of risks on project delivery |
Most signifi cant |
Moderately signifi cant |
Least signifi cant |
5) Issues faced in adopting schedule control strategies |
Strongly agree |
Agree |
Strongly disagree |
6) Cost overrun in execution and closing phase |
Strongly agree |
Agree |
Strongly disagree |
(a) Factors susceptible to increase in cost |
Grade |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
High |
67 |
41 |
32 |
26 |
19 |
Medium |
30 |
59 |
60 |
63 |
52 |
Low |
4 |
0 |
8 |
11 |
22 |
A=Building material cost; B=Manpower cost; C=Borrowing cost; D=Equipment cost; E=Contractor/Subcontractor cost |
Summary |
Groups |
Count |
Sum |
Average |
Variance |
Column A |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
1002.333 |
Column B |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
914.3333 |
Column C |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
677.3333 |
Column D |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
716.3333 |
Column E |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
496.3333 |
ANOVA |
Source of variation |
SS |
df |
df |
F |
Between groups |
0.266667 |
4 |
0.066667 |
8.76E-05 |
Within groups |
7613.333 |
10 |
761.3333 |
|
Total |
7613.6 |
14 |
|
|
Where SS=Sum of squares (for columns), df=degrees of freedom, MS = Mean square= SS/df and F is the ANOVA test value. Between groups means considering row-wise data hence 5-1=4 degrees of freedom and within groups means considering columns total 15 subtracting 1 for each column gives a value of 15-5=10 which is the degrees of freedom for columns (within groups). |
(b) Extent of impact on project schedule in execution and closing phase |
Impact |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
High |
48 |
41 |
41 |
38 |
34 |
31 |
28 |
28 |
24 |
24 |
17 |
17 |
14 |
Medium |
28 |
41 |
17 |
41 |
17 |
55 |
41 |
55 |
48 |
45 |
41 |
31 |
32 |
Low |
24 |
17 |
41 |
21 |
48 |
14 |
31 |
17 |
28 |
31 |
41 |
52 |
54 |
A=Geological surprises; B=Inadequate availability of skilled labour; C=Delay in approvals; D=Contractual
disputes; E=Unavailability of funds; F=Design change; G=Ineffective monitoring; H=Industrial relations;
I=Coordination issues with project team/vendors; J=Pre-commissioning teething problems; K=Ineffective
programme schedule; L=Lack of awareness of modern technology; M=Geographical challenges and cultural problems. |
Summary |
Groups |
Count |
Sum |
Average |
Variance |
Column A |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
165.3333 |
Column B |
3 |
99 |
33 |
192 |
Column C |
3 |
99 |
33 |
192 |
Column D |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
116.3333 |
Column E |
3 |
99 |
33 |
241 |
Column F |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
424.3333 |
Column G |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
46.33333 |
Column H |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
382.3333 |
Column I |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
165.3333 |
Column J |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
114.3333 |
Column K |
3 |
99 |
33 |
192 |
Column L |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
310.3333 |
Column M |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
401.3333 |
ANOVA |
Source of variation |
SS |
df |
MS |
F |
P-value |
F crit |
Between groups |
0.923077 |
12 |
0.076923 |
0.00034 |
1 |
2.147926 |
Within groups |
5,886 |
26 |
226.3846 |
|
|
|
Total |
5,886.923 |
38 |
|
|
|
|
Here F< F Critical |
c) Cost overrun in pre-execution phase |
Grade |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
Strongly agree |
22 |
26 |
15 |
11 |
15 |
8 |
Agree |
48 |
41 |
70 |
81 |
69 |
64 |
Strongly disagree |
30 |
33 |
15 |
8 |
16 |
28 |
A=Scope creep; B=Inadequate detailed project report; C=Acquisition of land at market price; D=High cost of environmental safeguards; E=Wrong selection of consultant; F=Ineffective R&R policies. |
Summary |
Groups |
Count |
Sum |
Average |
Variance |
Column A |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
177.3333 |
Column B |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
56.33333 |
Column C |
3 |
68 |
22.66667 |
176.3333 |
Column D |
3 |
55 |
18.33333 |
265.3333 |
Column E |
3 |
57 |
19 |
48 |
Column F |
3 |
80 |
26.66667 |
325.3333 |
ANOVA |
Source of variation |
SS |
df |
MS |
F |
P-value |
F crit |
Between groups |
685.2381 |
6 |
114.2063 |
0.514112 |
0.788165 |
2.847726 |
Within groups |
3,110 |
14 |
222.1429 |
|
|
|
Total |
3,795.238 |
20 |
|
|
|
|
Here F < F critical |
d) Impact of risks on project delivery |
Impact |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
Most significant |
685.2381 |
6 |
114.2063 |
0.514112 |
0.788165 |
Significant |
3,110 |
14 |
222.1429 |
|
|
Least significant |
3,795.238 |
20 |
|
|
|
A=Ineffective planning; B=Time and cost escalation owing to ineffective resources; C=Non-compliance with standards; D=Non-availability of skilled and resourceful personnel; E=Ineffective fi nancial management |
Summary |
Groups |
Count |
Sum |
Average |
Variance |
Column A |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
1,321.333 |
Column B |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
880.3333 |
Column C |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
265.3333 |
Column D |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
166.3333 |
Column E |
3 |
100 |
33.33333 |
89.33333 |
ANOVA |
Source of
variation |
SS |
df |
MS |
F |
P-value |
F crit |
Between
groups |
-1.8E-12 |
4 |
-4.5E-13 |
-8.4E-16 |
0.0003 |
3.47805 |
Within groups |
5,445.333 |
10 |
544.5333 |
|
|
|
Total |
5,445.333 |
14 |
|
|
|
|
Here also F < F critical |
e) Issues faced in schedule control strategies |
Grading |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
Strongly agree |
17 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
14 |
Agree |
69 |
55 |
36 |
24 |
72 |
Strongly disagree |
14 |
41 |
57 |
73 |
14 |
A=Government policies and procedures: B=Resistance to innovation by contractors: C= Delay in decision making: D=Delayed availability of funds: E=Incoherent project management team |
Summary |
Groups |
Count |
Sum |
Average |
Variance |
Column A |
4 |
100 |
25 |
915.3333 |
Column B |
4 |
99 |
24.75 |
678.9167 |
Column C |
4 |
100 |
25 |
296.6667 |
Column D |
4 |
100 |
25 |
410 |
Column E |
4 |
100 |
25 |
1,025.333 |
ANOVA |
Source of variation |
SS |
df |
MS |
F |
P-value |
F crit |
Between groups |
0.2 |
4 |
0.05 |
7.52E-05 |
1 |
3.055568 |
Within groups |
9,978.75 |
15 |
665.25 |
|
|
|
Total |
9,978.95 |
19 |
|
|
|
|
Here also F < F critical |
f) Cost overrun in execution and closing phase |
Grading |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
Strongly agree |
26 |
22 |
15 |
19 |
26 |
15 |
11 |
7 |
7 |
4 |
Agree |
67 |
70 |
63 |
58 |
48 |
56 |
44 |
44 |
49 |
30 |
Strongly disagree |
7 |
8 |
22 |
23 |
26 |
29 |
45 |
49 |
44 |
66 |
A=Material price rise escalation beyond projections; B=Escalation in labour costs; C=Changes in
design; D= Incremental fi nancial costs (foreign exchange, borrowing cost, etc); E=Location and
connectivity to site; F=Inadequate availability of skilled resources; G= Weak contract administration/
claims management; H=Improper procurement planning; I=Contractual disputes; J=Wrong/poor
selection of technology/equipment |
Summary |
Groups |
Count |
Sum |
Average |
Variance |
Column A |
4 |
100 |
25 |
904.6667 |
Column B |
4 |
99 |
24.75 |
994.25 |
Column C |
4 |
101 |
25.25 |
673.5833 |
Column D |
4 |
100 |
25 |
534 |
Column E |
4 |
100 |
25 |
326.6667 |
Column F |
4 |
100 |
25 |
464.6667 |
Column G |
4 |
99 |
24.75 |
341.5833 |
Column H |
4 |
99 |
24.75 |
341.5833 |
Column I |
4 |
99 |
24.75 |
495.5833 |
Column J |
4 |
101 |
25.25 |
431.5833 |
ANOVA |
Source of ariation |
SS |
df |
MS |
F |
P-value |
F crit |
Between groups |
1.4 |
9 |
0.155556 |
0.000282 |
1 |
2.210697 |
Within groups |
1,6524.5 |
30 |
550.8167 |
|
|
|
Total |
1,6525.9 |
39 |
|
|
|
|
Here also F < F critical |
K SRINIVAS and B RAVINDER present the results of a study on causative factors for time and cost overruns in an infrastructure project by ANOVA.
Managing risks is a strategic tool to reap the full benefits of the critical initiatives implemented in any organisation. Organisations that have implemented good risk management practices tend to reap the maximum advantage. This paper focuses on the study carried out for an infrastructure project by considering six major causes in various phases of the project regarding cost and time overruns and tried to determine the factor responsible for the inordinate delay of the project. This study was carried out by considering various elements under each of the identified major causes; for each major cause, a hypothesis was assumed and subjected to single-factor Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) by using an SPSS tool. The results showed that each identified factor under a major cause was equally responsible for cost and time overruns and that all the factors were interdependent, ie, the effect of delay in a factor would have a chain effect on other factors too.
Introduction
Risk is a variable associated with the implementation of a specific project with the potential to adversely affect the implementation of a project or interest of stakeholders. An infrastructure project by its very nature is more prone to risks than ordinary industrial projects. A crucial aspect of a successful infrastructure project development is, therefore, suitable identification, assessment, monitoring and control of risks.
In the current environment, value of money is accorded top priority by many construction organisations. However, the required value from project investment is not being recovered owing to their inability to deliver the objectives of the project, the prime factors being cost and time overruns. While risk owing to internal factors can be foreseen and minimised, risks owing to external factors, which cannot be comprehended easily and for which there is no contingency planning, will have a debilitating effect on the viability of the project. A study conducted by KPMG-PMI in 2012 reported that organisations that consistently adopted effective risk management practices were much better equipped to face the risks and produced results much better than traditional cost control measures.
Methodology
Six major causes along with relevant elements that could be contributors to that cause were identified and distributed as a structured questionnaire to 250 respondents who were either stakeholders or had knowledge of the project. Responses were received from 100 respondents. The six causes and the grading given in the questionnaire for each cause is given in Table 1. Each of the seven identified causes along with relevant factors was subjected to a single-factor ANOVA test using SPSS tool. In all the seven cases, the null hypothesis was assumed, that there is no difference of means between the factors responsible for a major cause and alternate hypothesis was, there is difference of means between the factors. If the result gives value of F less than Fcritical, we accept the null hypothesis and the means of the populations are equal and in case, F is greater than Fcritical, alternate hypothesis is accepted, ie, there is difference of means of the population.
Conclusion
In all the six cases, the value of F was less than Fcritical, which implies that null hypothesis has been accepted, ie, there is no difference of means of the population (factors relevant to a cause).
The value of F was less than Fcritical, which implied that each factor had equal potential to cause the time or cost overrun and that all factors were dependent, ie, delay in one factor can have a chain effect on the factors, also leading to delay in project schedule.
About the Authors:
K Srinivas and Bonniga Ravinder are Assistant Professors at NICMAR, Hyderabad.
Table 1: THE CAUSES AND GRADING
Identifi ed cause
Grading of responses
1) Factors susceptible to increase in cost
High
Moderate
Low
2) Extent of impact on project schedule in execution and
closing phase
High impact
Moderate impact
Low impact
3) Cost overruns in pre-execution phase
Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
4) Impact of risks on project delivery
Most signifi cant
Moderately signifi cant
Least signifi cant
5) Issues faced in adopting schedule control strategies
Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
6) Cost overrun in execution and closing phase
Strongly agree
Agree
Strongly disagree
(a) Factors susceptible to increase in cost
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
High
67
41
32
26
19
Medium
30
59
60
63
52
Low
4
0
8
11
22
A=Building material cost; B=Manpower cost; C=Borrowing cost; D=Equipment cost; E=Contractor/Subcontractor cost
Summary
Groups
Count
Sum
Average
Variance
Column A
3
100
33.33333
1002.333
Column B
3
100
33.33333
914.3333
Column C
3
100
33.33333
677.3333
Column D
3
100
33.33333
716.3333
Column E
3
100
33.33333
496.3333
ANOVA
Source of variation
SS
df
df
F
Between groups
0.266667
4
0.066667
8.76E-05
Within groups
7613.333
10
761.3333
Total
7613.6
14
Where SS=Sum of squares (for columns), df=degrees of freedom, MS = Mean square= SS/df and F is the ANOVA test value. Between groups means considering row-wise data hence 5-1=4 degrees of freedom and within groups means considering columns total 15 subtracting 1 for each column gives a value of 15-5=10 which is the degrees of freedom for columns (within groups).
(b) Extent of impact on project schedule in execution and closing phase
Impact
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
High
48
41
41
38
34
31
28
28
24
24
17
17
14
Medium
28
41
17
41
17
55
41
55
48
45
41
31
32
Low
24
17
41
21
48
14
31
17
28
31
41
52
54
A=Geological surprises; B=Inadequate availability of skilled labour; C=Delay in approvals; D=Contractual
disputes; E=Unavailability of funds; F=Design change; G=Ineffective monitoring; H=Industrial relations;
I=Coordination issues with project team/vendors; J=Pre-commissioning teething problems; K=Ineffective
programme schedule; L=Lack of awareness of modern technology; M=Geographical challenges and cultural problems.
Summary
Groups
Count
Sum
Average
Variance
Column A
3
100
33.33333
165.3333
Column B
3
99
33
192
Column C
3
99
33
192
Column D
3
100
33.33333
116.3333
Column E
3
99
33
241
Column F
3
100
33.33333
424.3333
Column G
3
100
33.33333
46.33333
Column H
3
100
33.33333
382.3333
Column I
3
100
33.33333
165.3333
Column J
3
100
33.33333
114.3333
Column K
3
99
33
192
Column L
3
100
33.33333
310.3333
Column M
3
100
33.33333
401.3333
ANOVA
Source of variation
SS
df
MS
F
P-value
F crit
Between groups
0.923077
12
0.076923
0.00034
1
2.147926
Within groups
5,886
26
226.3846
Total
5,886.923
38
Here F< F Critical
c) Cost overrun in pre-execution phase
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
F
Strongly agree
22
26
15
11
15
8
Agree
48
41
70
81
69
64
Strongly disagree
30
33
15
8
16
28
A=Scope creep; B=Inadequate detailed project report; C=Acquisition of land at market price; D=High cost of environmental safeguards; E=Wrong selection of consultant; F=Ineffective R&R policies.
Summary
Groups
Count
Sum
Average
Variance
Column A
3
100
33.33333
177.3333
Column B
3
100
33.33333
56.33333
Column C
3
68
22.66667
176.3333
Column D
3
55
18.33333
265.3333
Column E
3
57
19
48
Column F
3
80
26.66667
325.3333
ANOVA
Source of variation
SS
df
MS
F
P-value
F crit
Between groups
685.2381
6
114.2063
0.514112
0.788165
2.847726
Within groups
3,110
14
222.1429
Total
3,795.238
20
Here F < F critical
d) Impact of risks on project delivery
Impact
A
B
C
D
E
Most significant
685.2381
6
114.2063
0.514112
0.788165
Significant
3,110
14
222.1429
Least significant
3,795.238
20
A=Ineffective planning; B=Time and cost escalation owing to ineffective resources; C=Non-compliance with standards; D=Non-availability of skilled and resourceful personnel; E=Ineffective fi nancial management
Summary
Groups
Count
Sum
Average
Variance
Column A
3
100
33.33333
1,321.333
Column B
3
100
33.33333
880.3333
Column C
3
100
33.33333
265.3333
Column D
3
100
33.33333
166.3333
Column E
3
100
33.33333
89.33333
ANOVA
Source of
variation
SS
df
MS
F
P-value
F crit
Between
groups
-1.8E-12
4
-4.5E-13
-8.4E-16
0.0003
3.47805
Within groups
5,445.333
10
544.5333
Total
5,445.333
14
Here also F < F critical
e) Issues faced in schedule control strategies
Grading
A
B
C
D
E
Strongly agree
17
3
7
3
14
Agree
69
55
36
24
72
Strongly disagree
14
41
57
73
14
A=Government policies and procedures: B=Resistance to innovation by contractors: C= Delay in decision making: D=Delayed availability of funds: E=Incoherent project management team
Summary
Groups
Count
Sum
Average
Variance
Column A
4
100
25
915.3333
Column B
4
99
24.75
678.9167
Column C
4
100
25
296.6667
Column D
4
100
25
410
Column E
4
100
25
1,025.333
ANOVA
Source of variation
SS
df
MS
F
P-value
F crit
Between groups
0.2
4
0.05
7.52E-05
1
3.055568
Within groups
9,978.75
15
665.25
Total
9,978.95
19
Here also F < F critical
f) Cost overrun in execution and closing phase
Grading
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
Strongly agree
26
22
15
19
26
15
11
7
7
4
Agree
67
70
63
58
48
56
44
44
49
30
Strongly disagree
7
8
22
23
26
29
45
49
44
66
A=Material price rise escalation beyond projections; B=Escalation in labour costs; C=Changes in
design; D= Incremental fi nancial costs (foreign exchange, borrowing cost, etc); E=Location and
connectivity to site; F=Inadequate availability of skilled resources; G= Weak contract administration/
claims management; H=Improper procurement planning; I=Contractual disputes; J=Wrong/poor
selection of technology/equipment
Summary
Groups
Count
Sum
Average
Variance
Column A
4
100
25
904.6667
Column B
4
99
24.75
994.25
Column C
4
101
25.25
673.5833
Column D
4
100
25
534
Column E
4
100
25
326.6667
Column F
4
100
25
464.6667
Column G
4
99
24.75
341.5833
Column H
4
99
24.75
341.5833
Column I
4
99
24.75
495.5833
Column J
4
101
25.25
431.5833
ANOVA
Source of ariation
SS
df
MS
F
P-value
F crit
Between groups
1.4
9
0.155556
0.000282
1
2.210697
Within groups
1,6524.5
30
550.8167
Total
1,6525.9
39
Here also F < F critical
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