Cândido, L F; Lima, S H D O and Machado Oliveira, F M (2026) Determinants of delay in small construction projects: Evidence from Brazil. International Journal of Construction Management, 26(1), pp. 168-184. ISSN 1562-3599
Abstract
Despite the vast literature addressing the main causes of delays in construction projects, the influence of the size of the project remains ill-explored. To fill this gap, the determinants of delays in completing small construction projects (SCP) were analyzed. Based on prevalent literature on large projects, a six-factor theoretical structure was proposed. This theoretical structure was reduced from 6 factors (23 variables) to 3 factors (11 variables) through exploratory factor analysis. The data were gathered from a survey of professionals in the Brazilian construction industry, resulting in a sample of 106 valid respondents. Results show that variables and explanatory factors for the delay in completing SCP are contextual and economically dependent. Specifically, they evidenced the prominence of causes related to 'Quality of design', 'Manpower', and 'Materials'. Compared with the dominant literature, they indicate significant differences in delay causes between SCP and larger projects. The study can improve SCP management practices as project and construction managers could apply the findings to guide decision-making processes throughout all project phases and to design methods and techniques to improve efficiency and reduce delays in the sector. Ten practical recommendations were provided from a multilevel perspective (firm, industry and society level). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to address the wide range of causes of delays in completing SCP in the Brazilian context using a structured quantitative method.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction industry; construction management; factor analysis; time overrun |
| Index terms: | multilevel perspective, quantitative method, evidence, construction manager, construction project, management practice, survey, Brazil, society, exploratory factor analysis, design method, construction industry, determinant, factor analysis, causes of delay, decision-making process, time overrun, efficiency |
| Subjects: | data analysis and analytics, risk assessment, profession, data collection methods, research design and methodology, design methods, project controls, decision analysis, industry analysis, statistical analysis, management, performance management, evaluation and assessment methods, communities and social development, Geography, production management |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Project Management, Geographical Context, Risk Management, Design Practice, Time Control, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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