Abstract:
Delay in construction projects is considered to be one of the common problems in the
construction industries throughout the world. Particularly, the problems of delay in water
supply construction projects was very sensitive to Ethiopia through negatively affecting the
country’s economic and social development. The aim of this study was to assess the factors
causing delay of rural pipe system water supply construction projects in Jimma Zone. The
study have adopted descriptive research approach and both primary and secondary data
were collected through structured Questionnaire and desk review tools. In this research
study 33 factors causing delay of rural pipe system water supply construction projects were
identified and the structured questionnaire was distributed to 73 respondents and analyzed
with relative importance index method.
The findings of this study indicated the top ten factors that are causing delay of rural pipe
system water supply construction projects in Jimma Zone were:(1)Poor management and
supervision of construction site(RII=0.923), (2)Lack of effective planning and evaluation
in project construction(RII=0.899), (3)Failing to prepare of effective work methodology
and scheduling of Construction projects activities(RII=0.896), (4)Political
factors(RII=0.871), (5)Weak communication and coordination of clients with consultants
and contractors (RII=0.868),(6)Late payment approval(RII=0.866) and Construction
Material Price fluctuation(RII=0.866),(8)Weak communication and coordination of
consultants with client and contractor(RII=0.863) and Shortage or lack of productive
construction equipment(RII=0.863) and (10)Unexpected surface & sub-surface conditions
(such as soil, water table) Or Unforeseen site condition(RII=0.860). The effects of delay
identified were :( 1) Time overrun (RII=0.885), (2) Bad public relations (RII=0.816), (3)
Non-satisfaction of involved parties in the project construction (RII=0.797) and Cost
overrun (RII=0.975).
Finally, the mitigation measures determined to reduce delay of rural pipe system water
supply construction projects in Jimma zone are ranked as (1)Effective planning, scheduling
and Supervision of project construction works(RII=0.899),(2)Having regular project
progress evaluation program & clear information and communication channels among the
parties involved in project construction(RII=0.832)and(3)The consultants should carry out
detail study and design of water supply projects(RII=0.808).Therefore study concluded that
the identified delay causing factors are very critical and the proposed mitigation measured
can be considered to solve the problem
