Construction time performance in multi-unit residential construction: Insight into the role of procurement methods

Construction time performance variables have been identified in recent work undertaken for the Construction industry Institute od Australia (CIIA) which related specifically to non-residential non-engineering construction projects. This work involved face to face questionnaires surveying 45 completed projects. Results indicate project team effectiveness contributed significant influence on construction time performance. Project complexity also contributed to construction time performance. Further studies were undertaken using a similar survey method to bridge the gap of knowledge pertaining to construction time performance and multi-unit residential construction. Results from the CIIA and this study are compared and reported upon in this paper. Conclusions from the latest survey indicate that the following factors also affected construction time performance: relationships between builder and sub-contractor; the degree of experience and expetise in the same type and size of project; the builders current workload and resource availability; and the procurement method. This latter factor is addressed in this paper.