Assessment of managerial causes of project delay And quality problem on cobblestone road Construction projects in jimma town

Abstract

One of the most common challenges facing road construction projects is road project performance. The failure of any construction project is mainly related to the problems and failure in time and quality performance. Three principal parties (Client, Consultant andContractors) severally contribute failure in project performance based on managerial time-related causes and quality-related causes. The main objective of this study is to assess the managerial causes of project delay and quality problem and suggests appropriate measures that can be taken to improve project delay and quality problem in future Jimma Town cobblestone road construction projects. This research study is descriptive cross sectional and explanatory survey design with quantitative research approach. Census survey and purposive sampling techniques were used to select respondents and collect data. The former technique was used to select and collect data from client and consultant whereas the latter technique was used to select and collect data from contractors. The research work mainly consists of literature review, questionnaire survey, and case study. Based on the literature review a total of twenty-five managerial causes affecting project delay and twenty-three causes affecting quality problem and also fifty remedial measures were identified in both cases. The results of the case study indicated that all cobblestone road projects under in Jimma town experienced time overrun and quality problem. The extent of project delay and quality problem varies from 53.33% to 130% and 10% to 41% respectively. The causes and remedial measures of delay and quality problem were identified and ranked based on the value of relative important index (RIIS). The most top five important managerial causes that contributed to the project delay and quality problem from case study and questionnaire survey in Jimma town cobblestone road construction projects were identified and ranked. Financial difficulties faced by contractors, lack of project management system of those parties.poor planning and scheduling of the project, delay to handover and delivering the site and delay in response to decision making process for time overrun. Financial difficulties faced by contractors, inappropriate construction methods as per design & Specification, lack of Proper derange during construction, lack of quality control and assurance system and poor maintenance system after construction for quality problem. Finally the results of theresearch study propose remedial measures to improve, project delay and quality problem in future cobblestone road construction projects in Jimma Town.