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Supervision and delay in implementing construction projects

The role of owners supervisor

Abstract:The construction industry in Libya has grown with a remarkable increase during the previous

three decades after the discovery of oil and the rise of September revolution. As a sequence of that,

various industries were established, and the geographic change took place in the demography of the

population, as well as the growth in the economic activity, such elements represent the important

factors in the rising and development of prosperity movement in various spheres, starting from

infrastructure to investment projects, aiming to achieve economic incomes. Although such projects

have a significant and paramount role to play, most of them are subject to delay problems during their

several stages, which lead to a rational loss to all contracting parties, and cause many conflicts

between them. The probability of the construction project being subject to delay is due to its multiple

inputs and due to the various kinds of its resources, in addition to the special requirements and uniquenature that may characterize each construction project distinctly from another, and also because of the

numerous parties undertaking its execution.

The owners supervisor plays an important role in supervising the performance of the

contractor in order to achieve the three main goals of the owner project ( time, quality, and cost). In

this regard, the supervisor can follow specific procedures during his supervision for achieving two

goals: quality of accomplished work, and the execution of the project within the limits of the allocated

budget, while the associating process of the project schedule time is considered to be one of the most

difficult tasks which lead to problems occurrence. Such an issue requires a qualified supervisor with

high skills, well known and a good understanding of how such delay occurs, and the way to deal with

it, and a knowledge of modern techniques being used. Ultimately any supervisor shortcoming will

cause a project cost increase because of its delay in particular, and categorically due to the rarity of

studies dealing with the tasks of the owners supervisor.

Due to the general trend to assign supervisory tasks to Libyan nationals, and the absence of

information about the extent efficiency of the national supervisor, this research work was conducted

depending on information obtained from opinions field survey of national experts in the field of

executing construction projects, aiming to evaluate the efficiency degree of the national supervisor

both as an individual engineer or as an organization concerning the delay, and to detect the

shortcoming aspects as well as its/his role in the delay occurrence.

Suggested solution models which were approached and tested by Libyan supervision experts,

are :

1 The engineer performance evaluation model concerning the delay which was applied to Libyan

supervisor engineer, resulted 48.38% degree of current efficiency, while the minimum required

points should not be less than 51.08%.2 The organization quality procedures evaluation model concerning the delay which was applied to

Libyan organizations, resulted 53.6% degree of current efficiency, while the minimum required

points should not be less than 50.24%.

3 The supervision causing delay rate model showed 18.16% , with an increasing executing time

with 13% of the contractual duration.

4 The national supervisor engineer efficiency predicating model obtained was :

Y = 3.91 + 0.928x1 + 1.42x3 + 1.45x5 + 4.24x7 ,

and the causing delay rate was found as :

R = ( 1 Y ) * 7.02

The first three solution models mentioned above were consisting a Database, Statistical analysis, andSolution model system (DSS) in a software program which was attached with the thesis on a CD laser

disc together with a user manual.

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This software was designed very simple to be used, with an ability for modification, develop and

possible to be used out side Libya with few changes in the local experts factors.

1. Introduction

The project life cycle goes through three main stages. These are design;

construction, and maintenance. The design stage encompasses scientific

principles and initiatives; technical knowledge and developments, and an

understanding of the users needs and requirements, taking into account both the

resulting physical and mental working environment.

The construction stage is the execution of the work in accordance with the

contractual agreement. To ensure that the construction project adheres to the

agreed contract, the owner has his own supervisor to monitor the work and

check its progress according to the plans.

The final stage of the project comes into effect once the construction is

completed. This stage according to specified time is the maintenance period

where any defects are remedied.

Once the decision has been made to proceed with the construction project,

the client will usually have three main goals.

- To complete the project within the budget.

- To complete the project on time.

- To ensure completion of the project in conformance with the contractspecifications.

For the successful completion of a project, the construction participants

must aim to work toward achieving the clients goals. Various contractual

arrangements are used to govern the construction process. These may take the

traditional approach as is the general rule in Libya, or use alternative systems

such as BOOT contract (build, own, operate, and transfer) and design and build

contracts. The client can appoint an engineering team from his own organization

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or employ an independent team of engineers to carry out feasibility studies;

provide detailed design and contract documentation. After the decision to

proceed with the project has been made, tenders can be invited and a

competitive contractor selected.

The client may make three contracts.

- Client and contractor to implement the project.

- Client and consultant to carry out the preliminary study and design stage.

- The client and supervisor to monitor the contractors performance within theagreed contract. The contract for supervision may be made with the existing

design consultant or a separate body.

The owners supervisor (either an individual or an organization) represents

the owner on the construction site and ensures that the clients goals of quality,

cost, and time are achieved. To guarantee the achievement of these goals, the

supervisor devises appropriate procedures which also set out clear guidelines to

monitor the quality and the cost, but time monitoring and dealing with delays is

the main problem and is considered to be the most difficult task facing the

supervision team and the project manager.

Most of the construction projects in Libya are subject to delay during the

actual construction phase which increases the project costs; overrun costs,

acceleration costs, and delayed income from the finished project. The lack of

the supervisors efficiency and shortage of understanding of the problems and

failure to use new techniques does not allow the supervisor to protect the

owners interests.

The supervisor should have scientific and technical knowledge and the skills

to adjust to and take on new and future technical developments.

The supervisor needs to understand the contract procurement system as well

as have experience in record-keeping. The supervisor should also have

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background knowledge in the legal complexities of owner/contractor

relationships, an understanding of the regulations involved in different

client/contractor contracts and types and forms as well as the rights and

obligations of both parties. This is to minimize the risk of claims made by the

contractor.

The supervisor needs these special skills when monitoring project schedules

and dealing with the variety of delay problems which are the most difficult

areas to control. At present, the construction industry is highly competitive, asother industries, and aims to minimize its costs. One way to minimize costs is to

minimize the consequences of delays in construction projects. Most

construction projects, if not all, are subject to delays. The construction industry

throughout the world faces a variety of challenges concerning delays and

Libyan construction projects face the same challenges; sometimes to a greater

degree. In this case the owner of most large construction projects in Libya is the

government. The Libyan supervisor needs to be armed with the required skills

to deal with these problems of delay. In spite of the important role of the

owners supervisor in protecting the owner from extra delay costs, - in the

construction industry worldwide - very little has been written about it. This

thesis is concerned with the owners supervisor and his efficiency and the

requirements to deal with delays on construction sites.

Problem Background.

Information concerning the problems of the owners supervisor in construction

projects in Libya has been gathered from the researchers experience in

supervising some construction projects and from discussions with supervising

engineers; and from the reports of The Public Committee of Projects

Monitoring and Follow-up The Division for Projects and Contract

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Management (The Public Committee of Projects Monitoring and Follow-up,

1999) and also by the majority of court cases between contractors and clients.

Discussions and interviews have been carried out with Libyan owners,

contractors, and experts who have stated that the Libyan supervisor needs

improvement and is lacking in efficiency, especially as - apart from a few

exceptions - construction projects in Libya have Libyan supervisors.

2. Research Hypotheses- Libyan supervisor limitation in understanding the nature of delay problems

and his shortage in using modern techniques to determine and measure the delay

in the construction field.

- Participation of supervisors deficiency in overruns of delay problems in

Libya.

3. Research Objective

3.1 Developing a technique that aims to help the Libyan consultant

organizations to assess the supervisors engineer, and improve his skills and

abilities (dealing with the delays). This will include:

- Employing new supervisor engineers.

- Selecting of planning and control teams and supervisor engineers to work

in the construction site.

- Determine the efficiency shortage in engineers who are working for the

consultant office.

- Preparing training plans

3.2 Determining the supervisor role in the occurrence of delay in Libya.

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This research will contribute in bridging the gap between academic research and

practical work experience in the construction industry. It also provide a model

which could be used in assisting the efficiency of supervising engineers.

The Limits of the Research.

This study is based on the opinions of Libyan engineering experts who have

experience in the supervising of medium scale and large scale government-

owned construction projects within the city of Tripoli which, like the majorityof construction projects in Libya follow a traditional procurement system.

4. Research Methodology

4.1 Preliminary Study

- Reviewing of new related references

- Exploration study for some consultant offices to list the variables and

develop the questionnaire.

- Developing of Solution Model

4.2 Questionnaire model developing:

- Assessment of questionnaire model that assess owners supervisor

efficiency degree by performing a pilot study.

- Developing the questionnaire model and conducting the survey.

4.3 Analysis system developing

- Preliminary study and primary development for the analysis system.

- Assess the analysis system which has been preliminary developed by

discussing specialist in statistics, mathematics and information technology.

4.4 Model or technique developing

4.5 Testing the developed model (technique) by designing a questionnaire

about solution validity.

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4.6 Applying the supervisor assessment model to the supervisors.

4.7 Results

- Determine supervisor efficiency degree (individual and average)

- Determine efficient subjects variables and rank their importance

- Produce a regression equation (model) which will be used to predict the

supervisor efficiency degree.

- Determine the correlation between supervisor efficiency degree and his role

in delays occurring.

5. Thesis Organization.

This thesis presents the research work conducted in five chapters. The first

chapter covers the main phases of construction projects, the parties involved

and contracts that may be made between them during these phases. The role of

the owners supervisor on site in ensuring the achievement of the three main

goals of the owner. What knowledge, experience and skills are required to

enable him to perform this role. How the supervisor deals with delays, which

are a major aspect of most construction projects.

The awareness and identification of problems are also covered in this

chapter, as well as determining the research hypotheses and objectives and how

it will contribute academically and practically in assessing the efficiency of the

owners supervisor in dealing with delays in construction projects. Determining

the existing efficiency and ways to improve this efficiency.

The second chapter shows and discusses what has been written in relation

to this subject. It provides: a general overview of project management and the

construction industry in Libya and abroad. The requirements needed by the

supervisor in order to perform effectively. American, British and Libyan

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conditions and regulations relating to delays. Project programs and schedules.

Delay problems and their effects on quality and costs of construction projects.

The causes, types and costs of delay. How to measure it. Determining which

party is responsible for the delays, delay claims and the way record keeping

and management systems help to deal with these claims.

Chapter three explains the procedures adopted in developing the

questionnaire and conducting the survey. It includes the process of selecting the

survey method, determining the variables, defining the subjects to be coveredby the questions. Conducting a pilot study and adjusting the questionnaire.

Making software analysis for the data obtained by the questionnaire. Selecting

the survey sample and describing the administration of the questionnaire.

The fourth chapter presents the rates of responses obtained. The

classification of responses. It also presents in detail the analysis of data obtained

together with a discussion of results. It describes the procedure for preparing the

research data for the analysis process. A summing-up of the main points

stemming from analyzing and discussing the results.

Chapter five presents the results and details of conclusions and the

recommendations made from this research. It also provides the solution models

and their subsequent use. Testing the model validation.

At the end of the thesis a number of appendices relating to the different

chapters introduced above, are presented together with a list of references used

in the literature review.