An Empirical Approach for Identifying Critical Time‐Ovrerun Risk Factors in Kuwait’s Construction Projects

Risk identification is an integral part of overall risk management framework of projects. The risks associated with projects and their response planning differs according to the country and the sector specific environment in which they are being implemented. In this paper, the study is carried out to identify the critical risk factors causing delay in Kuwait’s building and infrastructure projects. The preparation of a preliminary list of risks and risk factors is outlined, questionnaire development and survey details are explained, and analysis of survey responses for the identification of delay risk factors in Kuwait is presented. A case study analysis with respect to time‐overrun/delay of about 28 building and infrastructure projects executed in Kuwait is also presented to validate the survey results. Survey and case study results show that the frequency of time‐overrun in KuwaitRisk identification is an integral part of overall risk management framework of projects. The risks associated with projects and their response planning differs according to the country and the sector specific environment in which they are being implemented. In this paper, the study is carried out to identify the critical risk factors causing delay in Kuwait’s building and infrastructure projects. The preparation of a preliminary list of risks and risk factors is outlined, questionnaire development and survey details are explained, and analysis of survey responses for the identification of delay risk factors in Kuwait is presented. A case study analysis with respect to time‐overrun/delay of about 28 building and infrastructure projects executed in Kuwait is also presented to validate the survey results. Survey and case study results show that the frequency of time‐overrun in Kuwait’s construction projects is very high. The five most critical time‐overrun factors identified in Kuwait’s infrastructure and building projects are: delay in government approvals/permits, delay in preparation and approval in variation orders, client induced additional work beyond the original scope, changed engineering conditions from the contract document and decreased labor productivity due to extreme climatic conditions. All the above risk factors are rated as moderately critical to very critical in Kuwaits construction projects is very high. The five most critical time‐overrun factors identified in Kuwait’s infrastructure and building projects are: delay in government approvals/permits, delay in preparation and approval in variation orders, client induced additional work beyond the original scope, changed engineering conditions from the contract document and decreased labor productivity due to extreme climatic conditions. All the above risk factors are rated as moderately critical to very critical in Kuwait.