Assessment of Delay Factors in Construction Projects: A Chronological Analysis with Insights from Iraq

Time overruns occur when construction projects take longer than anticipated to complete, significantly affecting costs, stakeholder satisfaction, and project success. This research aims to identify and rank the primary reasons for construction project delays, providing context for each factor''s relative significance and recommending corrective actions. To achieve this goal, a detailed list of probable delay causes was established through a review of the literature and discussions with professionals in the construction management field, creating a statistically acceptable sample. The study identified seventy-two (72) delay factors classified into eleven primary categories for consideration in the questionnaire. A survey was conducted with expert engineers from municipal, state, and private general construction companies. Data analysis employed the Relative Importance Index (RII), ranking, and easy-to-understand percentages. The sequencing of variables and categories reflected their significance, especially post-2013. The study investigated typical reasons for project-related delays and provided advice on how to manage and minimize delays in building projects. Based on the results, projects suffer from delays primarily due to financial-related factors, with the highest RII being 0.7539. Additionally, respondents agreed that projects failed to finish on time due to delays in progress payments by the owner, with overdue payments having the highest RII of 0.8031. This article serves as a reference for all stakeholders engaged in the construction sector, promoting efficient project management, maintaining competitive quality standards, and reducing costs. It is recognized that project time and costs are directly correlated.