An Investigation into the Factors Influencing Construction Schedule Overruns during COVID-19

The study aimed to identify the key elements that influenced building activities during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore strategies for addressing these issues in subsequent emergencies. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to pinpoint the causes of delays in construction timelines amid the pandemic. Subsequently, a survey was created using these insights and disseminated to industry experts to gather their views on the identified contributing factors. A total of 103 completed responses were received to the questionnaire, and a principal component analysis (PCA) was performed of the responses, followed by the development of a multinomial logistic regression model, using a statistical tool in SPSS. The results of the principal component analysis extracted two components, explaining approximately 68% of the variation data. Factors such as scarcity of labor force, shortage of competent workers, challenges in obtaining required materials, and limited access to heavy machinery were found to be highly influential. It was also found that two new synthesis variables, resource availability and management and coordination and operational challenges, played a critical role in explaining the variations in schedule overruns, and the scale of construction entities was found to be statistically significant in analyzing the factors contributing to schedule overruns. This study provides key findings for decision-makers and project management professionals in the construction sector, by enhancing their understanding of how to effectively manage projects during a pandemic or any similar crisis.