A survey of construction project cost and time control practices in the UK

Control is important for the successful delivery of projects. The way cost and time of construction projects are controlled differ from one organisation to another because there are numerous project control techniques in existence. However, there is limited current research surrounding the usage of these techniques by firms. To address this, a questionnaire survey was conducted in the UK aimed at identifying common project control practices in the country. Data was collected through administration of questionnaires to the top 150 construction companies (contractors) by company turnover and the top 100 construction consultancies (consultants) in the UK by the number of professional staff employed and total fee earnings. In total, 250 questionnaires were distributed with a response rate of 44%. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics and Z-test of significance. From the analysis of results Gantt bar chart was revealed as the main planning technique, project cost value reconciliation was revealed as the most commonly used cost control technique. It was also found that more than 90% of respondents frequently or always apply time and cost controls to their projects. The study found that there is no significant difference in project control practices between contractors and consultants in the UK.