How do project schedule management practices support reducing delays in construction projects in the Kurunegal district

Abstract

Stakeholders and project teams must priorities the timely completion of construction projects. Delays in the schedule can lead to a decline in the quality of work and negatively impact the organization’s reputation, resulting in lost revenue. The building construction industry in Sri Lanka has a growth rate of 4.4% as of June 2023, but the threshold is 50%, indicating a decline in growth rate. Project teams use project schedule management practices to improve the timely completion of projects. This study highlights how project schedule management practices can reduce delays in building construction projects in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka. Specifically, the study will focus on project schedule practices, identifying the best practices, challenges, and the proven detailed background of building construction delays in the region. The study explores various project schedule management, construction delay effects, and building construction types through literature and qualitative thematic analysis. Data codes were identified to cover the study objectives based on interviewee transcripts. The main themes are based on objectives and data analysed in the study under the sub-themes. They are the initiation, planning, execution, controlling and monitoring, and closing phases of project schedule management practices and existing project schedule management practices and their effectiveness, stakeholder satisfaction, and project schedule management challenges. The research covers construction organisations operating in Kurunegala, which is one of the most active construction areas in Sri Lanka. The study includes the participation of ten construction organisations, and the findings are discussed and compared briefly with the literature findings