Factors affecting construction planning efforts

It is widely accepted that environmental uncertainty strongly affects decision makers' performance and that the construction environment is very uncertain. Despite awareness of the consequences of uncertainty on a project, little attention has been paid to its effects on construction management, particularly on the planning function. The paper focuses on the assessment of the effect of environmental variables on the efforts invested in planning. The effect of eight situational variables is evaluated by measuring the time invested in planning and control, as well as the frequency of revisions. The variables examined are: number of subcontractors, number of trades, objectives rigidity, percentage-completion of design, past construction experience, predictability of weather, availability of labor, and attitudes towards planning. The study concludes that efforts should be adjusted to meet variable situations.