Empirical study of schedule delay in Moroccan construction projects

As a chronic and a common problem worldwide, most construction projects suffer from schedule delay and construction projects in Morocco are not an exception. The aim of this study is to determine the critical causes affecting projects delays in Moroccan construction industry. Forty-nine causes of delay were identified from the literature review and redefined through interviews with Moroccan experts. These causes are classified according to nine categories: client, contractor, consultant/designer, finance, planning and scheduling, communication and contractual relationship, material, labours and equipment, and external. A questionnaire survey was conducted with public and private contractors and consultants in order to assess the relative importance of construction delay causes in Morocco. A total of 330 valid responses were collected. Statistical analysis of data collected from this survey study reveals that the top-10 delay causes are: delay of progress payment, lack of training for employees, lack of waste management strategy, unrealistic contract duration imposed by clients, rework due to the construction errors, excessive subcontracting, delay in obtaining permits from governmental agencies, ineffective planning and scheduling, lack of collective planning, and unskilled workforce. These findings can be helpful for construction project managers to guide efforts in improving the performance of the Moroccan construction industry.