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Beyond the causes: Rethinking mitigating measures to avert cost and time overruns in construction projects

Richard Ohene Asiedu (Department of Building Technology, Koforidua Technical University, Koforidua, Ghana)
Ebenezer Adaku (Business School, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Accra, Ghana)
De-Graft Owusu-Manu (Department of Building Technology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana)

Construction Innovation

ISSN: 1471-4175

Article publication date: 10 July 2017

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to contend that the circle of investigation into overruns cannot be complete unless the established critical failure factors are matched against their respective mitigating measures to avert the overruns. Extant literature is replete with factors that engender cost and time overruns within the design and construction phase. The constraint is the lack of a scientific approach in establishing a tackling mechanism to address the root causes and stakeholder responsibilities.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on nine unique grand factors previously established and reported in literature about the Ghanaian Construction Industry. A focus group discussion convened through a purposive sampling technique led to the establishment of a list of mitigating measures and strategies.

Findings

The paper established a checklist of 114 mitigating measures categorised into preventive, predictive and corrective approaches. Additionally, several short to medium term key strategies have been recommended to avert the occurrence of cost and time overruns.

Originality/value

The mitigating measures can be adopted as a checklist of good practice to help practitioners enhance the effectiveness of project budget and schedule control. It is also supposed to serve as a guide to practitioners in averting overruns through predictive, preventive and/or corrective causes. A unique approach in averting the occurrence of cost and time overruns.

Keywords

Citation

Asiedu, R.O., Adaku, E. and Owusu-Manu, D.-G. (2017), "Beyond the causes: Rethinking mitigating measures to avert cost and time overruns in construction projects", Construction Innovation, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 363-380. https://doi.org/10.1108/CI-01-2016-0003

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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