The Name of The Class
Delays in the Project
Project management is a complex and multilateral process that often requires a highly close precision and great attention to the details. Running a project smoothly implies a thorough beforehand planning and a concordance with the previously set timelines. Thereby project management greatly incorporates time management itself and requires a close consideration of the time frames. Perfect project timing indicates project's high level of performance and influences its eventual success. Therefore delays in the projects are a highly serious issue which needs to be deeply considered and researched.
Construction industry is as much familiar in the issue of delays in projects as any other sphere. Being a common problem in the field of construction, it has a significant impact on the different aspects of the project, such as its cost, time and performance. The types of delays may differ, as well: according to the matter of importance, they may be critical or non-critical, according to the timeframes – concurrent or non-concurrent, according to the reason of delay – compensable, or client-related, and non-excusable, or contractor-related.
Defining the reasons of the delays is the first step towards its eventual reduction and, if followed by certain actions, towards the reassurance of its unlikely future recurrence. The key factor of the project delay may be connected either with a client or with a contractor. The following two of them will be further analyzed.
The reasons for client-related delays may lie in the inaccurate planning and a failure to assess the scope of project objectively, as well as a delayed project manager's decision towards a particular aspect of the project. The changes and alterations in the project design are the possible reasons for the project delay, as well. Meanwhile, the delays caused by the contractor or a subcontractor may happen due to the improper assessment of project tasks or capacities, or due to the vagueness of instructions.
It should be noted that any of the reasons reveal an unprofessional side of the project stakeholders and thereby state their negligence or the lack of experience, and thereby needs to be as much eliminated as possible.
Depending on the project state itself, the delays may be either prevented or, in case they have already occurred, mitigated. Knowledge management, background research and expert feedback on both the project planning and running often come as the keys to the timely project performance. In-depth prior analysis of risks and their identification will definitely ensure the project's better readiness to any timeline-related issues, while project planning with consideration of insignificant delays may greatly benefit the realization of the project itself. Thereby project delays would be considered not as a threat to the project performance, but as predicted implications which are met and efficiently resolved by the project managers.
As it was stated above, data acquisition is highly important in considering the projects delays. Thereby the theoretical and practical guidelines in planning and cost methodology, monitoring of the resources and decision-making processes need to be closely considered, as well.
The issue of project delays is presented and closely considered in three case studies, which helped to gain a better insight in the project management essentials and analyze the project delays based on the practical study. These cases differ in their project performances and outcomes: as one of them results in a successful project, another one, on the contrary, in a failed one, and the third one implies a delayed, but eventually completed project. Comparing and drawing the conclusions based on the cases ensure a better understanding of the project processes and its time frames.
Data analysis on the project multiple factors and constituents is provided within the research, as well as the conclusions are drawn and useful recommendations are presented. This will contribute into further project performance improvements and prevention of any project delays.
