Importance and ranking evaluation of delay factors for development construction projects in Benin

This study focuses on the analysis of delay factors which affect the delay in construction completion in Benin in order to teach construction project managers a specific managerial method that would be very useful for the success of new development projects. In this respect, some Beninese construction experts have been interviewed about some construction projects: departmental hospital, administration office, school, community health care center and community market done in the past and located in Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Abomey and Parakou. After statistical data of frequency, severity and importance was analyzed, an index of thirty-five delay factors were identified and used in structured questionnaires that were sent to the construction managers (contractor, owner, consultant and architect). The top ten important delay factors by their rank were further identified as: Financial capability by contractor, financial difficulties by owner, poor subcontractor performance, materials procurement of contractor, changes in drawings of architect, inadequate planning and scheduling of contractor, slow inspection of completed works by the consultant, equipment availability of contractor, preparation, approval of drawings of consultant and acceptance of inadequate design drawings by consultant. A comparison of the top five delay factors of Benin construction projects requiring a time extension with selected construction projects in Asia and other African countries shows that financial difficulty is most common, especially in African countries. Other causes of delay are very similar for developing countries and related to lack of technology, management, skills and competencies of project participants. Therefore it has been concluded that construction time overrun depends on economic, political stability and management implementation in each country. The study can be extended to compare other African countries development construction project delay factors to Asian countries.