Time and Cost Overrun Factors in Standardised Housing Projects in Public Sector in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Delay of construction projects in the public sector in KSA has historical roots. In the last four decades, the Saudi government has suffered from delays in construction projects as 70% of public sector projects have time, cost overrun. Therefore, Saudi government approved new system in housing construction called standardised housing projects in order to overcome the delay in construction project. However, Saudi government again face delay completion in standardised housing projects. this paper addresses the factors which lead to delay completion construction in the standardised housing projects in Saudi public sector projects. In this dissertation, three case studies were used in different regions of KSA for standardised housing projects and in order to obtain the results of this dissertation. The researcher used the primary data by conducting personal interviews with the participants in the case studies. Also, secondary data was obtained through the archival documents of participating projects as case studies. There were 6 project managers, who already worked in the case study, participated in this research. The researcher discussed with the participants, what are the factors and reasons that led to the time, cost overrun in standardised housing projects. The main result found that there are seven factors effect in standardised housing projects. According to the participant’s opinion the researcher divided the factors to three main categories, factors that significant impact like weather condition and payment delay. Factors that medium impact like design change, natural topography, make decision and access to site project. The last group, the low impact factor is poor services in the project region. Finally, the researcher provides the recommendations in order to improve the performance and avoid the project delay in standardised housing projects.