Pilot Investigation of Underestimates: Likelihood, Severity, and Impact on Productivity
Publication: Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction
Volume 13, Issue 4
Abstract
Labor productivity is susceptible to many factors, including those related to working conditions, methods, and construction resources. It is not uncommon to see that contractors performed the work in a different manner than what was originally anticipated for factors either within or beyond contractor’s control. Similar to changes expressly or constructively directed by the owner, contractors’ underestimates could also lead to an unanticipated condition causing a decline in productivity. Many papers have focused on the impact on labor productivity from the changes beyond the contractor’s control, but little research has been done on underestimates, including their prevalence, severity, and impact on labor productivity, in a reliable, quantitative way. In order to help project owners, contractors, and other parties better understand the issues impacting labor productivity on their projects, this paper reports a quantitative analysis on the impact of underestimates on productivity, using data published in the past, investigating the amount, likelihood, and impacts of underestimates. This analysis generally confirms the negative impacts of underestimate from a statistical perspective. Findings presented in this paper can help provide valuable insight in determining the root causes of loss of productivity, and resolve issues related to construction productivity. It is also hoped that more research can be inspired by this pilot investigation to advance the body of knowledge on this subject.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available in a repository online in accordance with funder data retention policies. The data relied on in this paper can be found in Leonard (1988) or https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/5043/.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction
Volume 13 • Issue 4 • November 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 23, 2020
Accepted: Apr 16, 2021
Published online: Jul 8, 2021
Published in print: Nov 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Dec 8, 2021
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Analysis (by type)
- Business management
- Construction engineering
- Construction management
- Construction methods
- Contracts and subcontracts
- Data analysis
- Employment
- Engineering fundamentals
- Labor
- Methodology (by type)
- Owners
- Personnel (type)
- Personnel management
- Practice and Profession
- Productivity
- Project management
- Quantitative analysis
- Research methods (by type)
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
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Cited by
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- Tong Zhao, Sensitivity Study on Loss of Productivity Quantification Methods, Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction, 10.1061/JLADAH.LADR-917, 15, 2, (2023).
- Tong Zhao, Timing and Severity of Cumulative Impact of Changes on Labor Productivity, Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction, 10.1061/(ASCE)LA.1943-4170.0000586, 15, 1, (2023).