Okonkwo, C; Evans, U F and Ekung, S (2023) Unearthing direct and indirect material waste-related factors underpinning cost overruns in construction projects. International Journal of Construction Management, 23(13), pp. 2298-2304. ISSN 1562-3599
Abstract
Despite the roles of construction projects in socio-economic development, expanding number of projects suffer chronic problems of cost overruns. However, approaches to unravelling the antecedents of this problem remain vastly nonspecific and lack a pertinent characterisation of issues with direct and indirect linkages between material waste factors and cost overruns. This study modelled the direct and indirect effects of six dimensions of material waste-related factors contributing to construction projects' cost overrun: unanticipated site conditions, material management, site management, workforce factors, material theft, design and contract documentations. The hypothesised recursive model of direct and indirect effects was validated using data from 200 valid responses of experts in the Nigerian construction industry. The results showed that the total effects of direct and indirect contributions of materials waste-related factors paths to project cost overrun are 55.38% and 44.62% respectively. Among the six dimensions of materials waste-related factors modelled, site management-related issues emerged as the most significant, contributing 9.23% of the total effect. Based on these results, effective cost performance in building project delivery is achievable by curbing materials waste-related concerns. Developing pertinent strategies to curb identified construction material waste, is necessary for achieving direct and indirect reductions in projects' cost overruns.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | causal paths; cost overrun; direct effects; indirect effects and path analysis |
| Index terms: | linkage, cost overrun, direct effect, construction industry, dimension, project delivery, path analysis, construction material, site management, strategy, project cost, overrun, theft, economic development, contract documentation, cost performance, construction project, indirect effect |
| Subjects: | health monitoring assessment and metrics, analytical methods, financial and cost management, project delivery, contractual arrangements, construction operations, building materials, criminal law, business, statistical analysis, industry analysis, project controls, production management, economics, factor and component analysis, management, economic development |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Research Practice, Sustainability, Procurement, Legal Issues, Site Management, Time Control |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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