Role of Time Management in Construction Projects - Research Proposal Example

ROLE OF TIME MANAGEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS Research Proposal s Numbers MOITRAYEE BASU ------------------------ Table of Contents 0 TITLE: ROLE OF TIME MANAGEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS 2.0 KEY WORDS: Time, project management, delays, factors and effects 3.0 AIMS OF RESEARCH 3.1 PURPOSES OF THE RESEARCH To identify critical factors that delay projects To determine the effect of activity delays in project To determine time management techniques that promotes time execution of project tasks 4.0 BACKGROUND Igroup (2011) revealed that the value of real estate projects under construction in Saudi Arabia is estimated to be about $586 billion. The magnitude of the cost of construction projects in Saudi Arabia is huge and any delays from whatever reasons will result in huge losses to both the owner of the project and the project contractor. Project delays are categorised into excusable, concurrent and compensatory delays. According to Lock (2007), excusable delays are delays that are beyond control of both the owner and the contractors. Excusable delays are caused by natural and man-made calamities such as severe weather, fires and floods as well as transport delays and labour strikes that are beyond control of both the project owner and the contractor. Concurrent delays are project delays arising from delaying two or more projects within a specified time frame and are caused by contractor or owners events. The aggrieved party can claim damages from the other. Compensable delays are project delays that require one party to the contract to demand damages from the party that caused the delays. Damages are paid due to increased project costs caused by increased crew size and cost of raw materials as well as loss of productivity as a result of interrupted work sequence. The effects of projects delays include increased cost of the projects; deny owner and contractors other business opportunities and cause tempers (Assaf and Al-Hejji 2009). Time management techniques that this research will address include critical path method, non-delay approach, precedence requirement, optimal timing and project crashing (Mishra and Soota 2006). 4.1 PROBLEM STATEMENT Assaf and Al-Hejji (2006) ascertained that 70 percent of construction projects in Saudi Arabia experience time overruns. According to Levy (2009), project delays result in increased cost of the project, dissatisfaction, lost opportunities and escalated tempers. It also dampens reputation of the contractor and may negatively influence future awards of projects. The cost of delays is significant to both the contractor and the owner. Increased in cost of delayed project is attributed to escalating cost of construction materials, equipment and office rental, and labour because project cost are time related. Therefore, there is need to minimise construction projects delays 4.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH First, the research will provide insight into the causes and effects of project delays and recommends how project delays can be reduced. Therefore, it will be helpful to experts in construction industry. Secondly, findings of the research will form the basis of literature review for scholars who will find it useful in their future study of the industry. Thirdly, it will increase my understanding and insight in construction projects. 5.0 RESEARCH QUESTIONS What are critical factors that delay projects? What are the effects of activity delays in project management? Which time management techniques promote time execution of project tasks? 6.0 DATA COLLECTION 6.1 DATA COLLECTION METHODOLOGY Primary data will be collected to identify factors and assess effects of time delays in construction projects as well as assess various time management techniques. Three research assistants will be engaged in distribution and collection of data. Data will be collected from project locations. The whole research will take a hundred and twenty days. 6.2 RESEARCH INSTRUMENT (QUESTIONNAIRE) 6.2.1 QUESTIONNAIRE CONSTRUCTION The questionnaire will be developed to obtain information regarding appropriate time management techniques as well as causes and effects of project delays in construction projects. The questions will be constructed under likert scale, whereby project managers will be asked the degree of agreement with certain statements relevant to the research. 6.2.2 PRE-TESTING THE QUESTIONNAIRE The questionnaire will be pre-tested weeks before actual survey is conducted to correct grammatical and clerical errors; remove redundancies and align all the questions to the matter under scrutiny (Fayers and Machin 2007). 7.0 METHODOLOGY 7.1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Research methodology describes activities and methods which will facilitate data collection in the identified areas. 7.2 RESEARCH DESIGN The data will be collected via a survey, which involves use of questionnaires to collect data from fifty project managers of fifty construction companies in Saudi Arabia. Phillips and Stawarski (2008) asserted that questionnaires are easier and take less time and little effort to administer as compared to focus groups and interviews. 7.3 POPULATION The total number of construction companies in Saudi Arabia from which data will be collected are seventy two (refer to table 3 in the appendix). 7.4 SAMPLE There are seventy companies construction companies in Saudi Arabia. However, due to time and resource constraint, only fifty companies will be surveyed. The fifty construction companies will be selected through a random sampling method. According to Black (2009), random sampling gives all the potential respondents equal chances of being selected as a sample. 7.5 DATA ANALYSIS Data will be analysed using statistical packages for social scientists (SPSS). The data will be tabulated on frequency tables and analysed using SPSS to determine multivariate analysis, averages, percentages and frequencies. According to Bryman et al (2009) and Sapsford and Jupp (2006), research findings are presented in tables and graphs. 8.0 RESOURCE AND PLANNING The research will take 720 hours (120 days, where researcher will spent about 6 hours per day). Table 1: Estimated number of hours Activity   Choose a topic and search the literature 30 Review the literature and define the research problem 60 Design the research and write proposal 60 Preparation Questionnaire Design 20   Planning for interviews 16   Pre-testing the questionnaire 70 Data collection Questionnaire distribution 34   Questionnaire collection 35 Data analysis Quantitative data analysis 60 Writing up First draft 85   Reviews 70   Final report 50 Contingency 130  Total hours   720 Table 2: Estimated costs of research Cost centre Amount in Saudi Riyal Three assistant researchers 4500 Printing of questionnaires 1000 Travel 3000 Food and beverage 900 Total 9400 9.0 ETHICS The research will endeavour to adhere to current research ethics. Project managers will be requested to voluntarily provide information. However, if they do not feel like providing the information, their decision will be respected. The project managers will be free to make changes or seek clarifications for their opinions so long as it does not compromise the quality of data collected. They can also withdraw at any time. The construction companies and respective project managers will be coded to preserve confidentiality and privacy of respondents (Iltis, 2006). Furthermore, the participants shall not be exposed to any dangers. The research shall only be used for academic purposes and data shall be secured to restrict unauthorised access. Finally, the research findings shall not be doctored and shall be presented in a true and fair manner. 10.0 LIMITATION OF RESEARCH First, the research will be conducted under limited financial resources and time. This will be a challenge but it is expected that time and financial constrained will not impact significantly on the quality of research. Secondly, construction companies under investigation are located far from each other. Therefore, it is going to be time consuming and cumbersome. Thirdly, some project managers may restrict access to significant data, which may be significant in assessing and reporting research findings. Fourth, Saudi Arabia has a harsh weather and collection of data will be limited to morning hours only and researcher may experience stroke heat and other complication associated with excessive heat. 11.0 OUTCOMES First, the research is expected to recommend better time management practices for construction companies. Secondly, the research is expected determine significant causes of project delays and estimate effects caused by project delays. Finally, it is expected that within the one hundred and twenty days following research approval, well documented research findings shall have been produced and presented to the university. 6.0 REFERENCES Assaf, S &Al-Hejji , S 2006, ‘Causes of delay in large construction projects’ International Journal of Project Management , vol. 24 pp. 349–357 Assaf, S& Al-Hejji, S 2009, Causes of Delay in Large Construction Projects, viewed 4 May 2011, . Black, K 2009, Business Statistics: Contemporary Decision Making, 6 edn, John Wiley and Sons, New York. Bryman, A, Hardy, M & Hardy, AM 2009, Handbook of Data Analysis, Sage Publications Ltd, London. Fayers, P & Machin, D 2007,Quality of life: the assessment, analysis and interpretation of patient-reported outcomes, 2nd edn, John Wiley and Sons, New York Igroup 2011, Building and Infrastructure Summit, viewed 4 May 2011, . Iltis, AS 2006, Research ethics, Taylor & Francis, London. Levy, MS 2009, Construction Process Planning and Management: An Owners Guide to Successful Projects, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford. Lock, D 2007, Project management, 9th edn, Gower Publishing, Ltd., London. Mishra, R & Soota, T 2006, Modern Project Management, New Age International, New Delhi. Phillips, P & Stawarski, AC 2008, Data Collection: Planning for and Collecting All Types of Data, John Wiley and Sons, New York. Sapsford, R & Jupp, V 2006, Data collection and analysis, 2nd edn, Sage, London. 7.0 APPENDICES Table 3: Seventy two Construction companies in Saudi Arabia Manazel Buiding & Construction Co. Saudi Cyprus Construction Co. Abdul Latif Al Ali Essa Est. Architectural & Construction Co. Ltd Al Massarat Building & Construction Co Ltd Al Falak Saudi Co. Abdul Mohsen M. Al Jasser Cont. Est. Bin Moghem Development Construction Est. Astra Construction Al Khatem Modern Construction Est Abdul Aziz M. Al Hareesh Contracting Est. Blacksmith Co. Ltd Ali Al Mohsen Construction Est. Middle East Engineering & Construction Co. Dar Jana Group Saudi Wiemer & Trachte Ltd Khaled Al Suhaimi Construction Est. Itqaan Projects Group Mohammed Faris Contracting Est. Saudi Tobal Construction Co. Jalowah Works Trading Est. Abdullah I. Al Mezyad Contracting Est. Sulaiman Al Teraies Constructions Co. Lumos Ali RedaCo Ltd Takfn For Construction & Foundations Saudi Specialized Contractive Works Co. Ltd Mouf Contracting Est. Al Rasheed Contracting Company Al Meem United Company Mumtaz Construction Co. Saudi Group Constractive Materials Co. International Hospitals Construction Co Najd Contracting Est. Sedulous Co. For Build & Const. Bin Turki For Constructions Power Field Trading Est. Issam Qabbani & PartenrsCo Al Sharq Constructions Co. Riyad Constructing Co. Dar Ekel Real Estate Construction Co. Madi City for Reconstruction & develpment Salma Saudi Group Al Rushaid Constractoin Co Ltd Construction Companies Saudi Archirodon Co Ltd Dana Trading & Contracting Est Rabia Trading & Agriculture Co Saudi Archrodon Ltd Co Saudi Danish Constructions Co. Ltd Middle East Communiction Co Saudi Arkidodon Co ltd Contrcating & Constructoin Co Ltd Nasir & Awad Al Yami Co.Trading & Contracting Saudi Condrico Co Abdullah Al Shuwaer Trading Co. Arabian Rock Construction Co Saudi CondricoCo Ltd Saudi Cyprus Construction Co. Ltd Construction Companies Saudi Construction Co. Makkah Construction & Buldings Co Ibrahim A. Mohd. Contracting Est. Saudi Construction Co. Ketana Brothers Saudi Arabia Co Ltd Modern Center For Construction Works Saudi Massar Co. Markan Arabia Constructions Est. Middle East Development Co. Trouq Saudi Lebanese Co. Jounnah & Parackvaides Oasis Co. Ltd Land Development & Contracting Projects Co. U. M. Smas Co. Sources: Igroup 2011 Read More