Factors Influencing Schedule Management Delays on Residential Projects in China - A Case Study of Yun Yue Dong Fang Project

Abstract

With the rapid development of China's property industry, residential construction projects face significant schedule delays due to inadequate progress management. It makes it difficult for enterprises to realize the return of funds on time, causing economic losses and reputational damage which brings serious economic losses and loss of corporate reputation. This study aims to identify and prioritize delay factors and propose effective control measures. Qualitative research methods, including semi-structured interviews, are used to collect data from the Yun Yue Dong Fang residential project in China, a case study, and analyze the influencing factors of project schedule management. Like construction, design, materials, finance, communication, non-human elements, planning, and supervision. Results show construction factors (particularly execution efficiency, funding timeliness, and resource allocation) dominate, as evidenced by their highest word frequency in interview coding. Followed by client factors, while the factors related to the design teams, as well as the factors related to the raw material and equipment suppliers have less impact. The study proposes strengthening control through integrated management systems and real-time monitoring, validated by the case study, to mitigate delays. The results of the study provide actionable insights for optimizing schedule management in residential projects as well as the project schedule management of residential development enterprises and enhancing enterprise performance.

Keywords

• Residential
• delay
• construction process
• project schedule
• impact factors

References

1. Abbasi, O., Noorzai, E., Gharouni Jafari, K., & Golabchi, M. (2020). Exploring the Causes of Delays in Construction Industry Using a Cause-and-Effect Diagram: Case Study for Iran. Journal of Architectural Engineering, 26(3). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)AE.1943-5568.0000431
2. Abdul Nabi, M., & El-adaway, I. H. (2021). Understanding the Key Risks Affecting Cost and Schedule Performance of Modular Construction Projects. Journal of Management in Engineering, 37(4). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000917
3. Acebes, F., Poza, D., González-Varona, J. M., & López-Paredes, A. (2022). Stochastic Earned Duration Analysis for Project Schedule Management. Engineering, 9, 148–161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2021.07.019
4. Adnan, T., Maleque, M. S. E., Jamal, M. S., & Sobuz, M. H. R. (2020). Factors affecting delay and safety on construction projects in Bangladesh. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Civil Engineering for Sustainable Development (ICCESD 2020), 7–9.
5. Ahmed, R., Hussain, A., & Philbin, S. P. (2022). Moderating Effect of Senior Management Support on the Relationship Between Schedule Delay Factors and Project Performance. Engineering Management Journal, 34(3), 374–393. https://doi.org/10.1080/10429247.2021.1940033
6. Alshakhrit, A. K., Supeni, E. E., & Zahari, N. I. (2019). Causes and effects of delays in Saudi Arabian construction projects. Journal of Global Economics, Management and Business Research, 11(4), 165–174.
7. Alsuliman, J. A. (2019). Causes of delay in Saudi public construction projects. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 58(2), 801–808. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AEJ.2019.07.002
8. Amusan, L. M., Afolabi, A., Ojelabi, R., Omuh, I., & Okagbue, H. I. (2018). Data exploration on factors that influences construction cost and time performance on construction project sites. Data in Brief, 17, 1320–1325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2018.02.035

9. Arantes, A., & Ferreira, L. M. D. F. (2020). Underlying causes and mitigation measures of delays in construction projects. Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, 25(2), 165–181. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFMPC-03-2019-0029
10. Asiedu, R. O., & Ameyaw, C. (2021). A system dynamics approach to conceptualise causes of cost overrun of construction projects in developing countries. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 39(5), 831–851. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-05-2020-0043
11. Aydemir, M. C., Damcı, E., Taşkın, Y., & Şekerci, Ç. (2024). Comparison of the Dynamic Characteristics of Tuned Liquid Column Dampers with Different Elbow Forms. Turkish Journal of Civil Engineering, 35(6), 87–106. https://doi.org/10.18400/tjce.1393000
12. Bajjou, M. S., & Chafi, A. (2020). Empirical study of schedule delay in Moroccan construction projects. International Journal of Construction Management, 20(7), 783–800. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2018.1484859
13. Bhattarai, M. (2023). Causes of Delay in Construction Projects in Nepal. Saudi Journal of Engineering and Technology, 8(06), 108–114. https://doi.org/10.36348/sjet.2023.v08i06.001
14. Boddy, C. R. (2016). Sample size for qualitative research. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 19(4), 426–432. https://doi.org/10.1108/QMR-06-2016-0053
15. Bombar, G., OZGENC AKSOY, A., & GÜNEY, M. Ş. (2023). Effects of Flow Unsteadiness on the Transport of Bimodal Bed Material. Turkish Journal of Civil Engineering, 34(6), 99–128. https://doi.org/10.18400/tjce.1226516
16. Bozkurt, G., Ersoy, S., & Yaşa, E. (2024). Yapı Üretim Süreçlerinde BIM ve VR Uygulamalarının Entegrasyonunun Değerlendirilmesi. Turkish Journal of Civil Engineering, 35(4), 117–144. https://doi.org/10.18400/tjce.1244122
17. Braun, V., Clarke, V., Boulton, E., Davey, L., & McEvoy, C. (2021). The online survey as a qualitative research tool. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 24(6), 641–654. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2020.1805550
18. Çavdar, E., Kumandaş, A., Şahan, N., Kabadayı, E., & Oruç, Ş. (2024). Investigation of Rheological and Physical Properties of SBS and WCO Composite Modified Bitumen. Turkish Journal of Civil Engineering, 35(6), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.18400/tjce.1393363
19. Ch, B., Anand Goud, K., Prakash, A., & Mounika, K. (2021). Schedule delay analysis of a multi-storied residential project using primavera. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 1091(1), 012038. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1091/1/012038
20. Chen, G. X., Shan, M., Chan, A. P. C., Liu, X., & Zhao, Y. Q. (2019). Investigating the causes of delay in grain bin construction projects: the case of China. International Journal of Construction Management, 19(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2017.1354514
21. Cho, K., Ahn, S., Park, K., & Kim, T. W. (2021). Schedule Delay Leading Indicators in Precast Concrete Construction Projects: Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Korean Cases. Journal of Management in Engineering, 37(4). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000915
22. Choong Kog, Y. (2018). Major Construction Delay Factors in Portugal, the UK, and the US. Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction, 23(4). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)SC.1943-5576.0000389
23. Cole, R. (2024). Inter-Rater Reliability Methods in Qualitative Case Study Research. Sociological Methods & Research, 53(4), 1944–1975. https://doi.org/10.1177/00491241231156971
24. Coleman, P. (2022). Validity and reliability within qualitative research for the caring sciences. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 14(3), 2041–2045.
25. Dadzie, J., Runeson, G., Ding, G., & Bondinuba, F. (2018). Barriers to Adoption of Sustainable Technologies for Energy-Efficient Building Upgrade—Semi-Structured Interviews. Buildings, 8(4), 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings8040057
26. DeJonckheere, M., & Vaughn, L. M. (2019). Semistructured interviewing in primary care research: a balance of relationship and rigour. Family Medicine and Community Health, 7(2), e000057. https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2018-000057
27. Delisle, J. (2019). Uncovering temporal underpinnings of project management standards. International Journal of Project Management, 37(8), 968–978. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2019.09.005
28. Dragan, I.-M., & Isaic-Maniu, A. (2022). An Original Solution for Completing Research through Snowball Sampling—Handicapping Method. Advances in Applied Sociology, 12(11), 729–746. https://doi.org/10.4236/aasoci.2022.1211052
29. Durdyev, S. (2021). Review of construction journals on causes of project cost overruns. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 28(4), 1241–1260. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-02-2020-0137
30. Durdyev, S., & Hosseini, M. R. (2019). Causes of delays on construction projects: a comprehensive list. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 13(1), 20–46. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMPB-09-2018-0178
31. Durdyev, S., & Hosseini, M. R. (2020). Causes of delays on construction projects: a comprehensive list. In International Journal of Managing Projects in Business (Vol. 13, Issue 1, pp. 20–46). Emerald Group Holdings Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMPB-09-2018-0178
32. Durdyev, S., Omarov, M., & Ismail, S. (2017). Causes of delay in residential construction projects in Cambodia. Http://Www.Editorialmanager.Com/Cogenteng, 4(1), 1291117. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2017.1291117
33. Emon, M. B. (2018). The main factors working behind the construction delay in Khulna city. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering, Chittagong, Bangladesh, 19–21.
34. Fashina, A. A., Ahmed, M. H., Salah, J. A., & Fakunle, F. F. (2020). The major barriers to the implementation of project management in small and medium construction companies in Hargeisa. PM World J., 9(9), 1–24.
35. George, A. L. (2019). Case Studies and Theory Development: The Method of Structured, Focused Comparison (pp. 191–214). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90772-7_10
36. Guest, G., Namey, E., & Chen, M. (2020). A simple method to assess and report thematic saturation in qualitative research. PLOS ONE, 15(5), e0232076. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232076
37. Guida, P. L., & Sacco, G. (2019). A method for project schedule delay analysis. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 128, 346–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2018.12.046
38. Gunduz, M., & Yahya, A. M. A. (2018). Analysis of project success factors in construction industry. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 24(1), 67–80. https://doi.org/10.3846/20294913.2015.1074129
39. Gurgun, A. P., Koc, K., & Kunkcu, H. (2024). Exploring the adoption of technology against delays in construction projects. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 31(3), 1222–1253. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-06-2022-0566
40. Habibi, F., Barzinpour, F., & Sadjadi, S. J. (2018). Resource-constrained project scheduling problem: review of past and recent developments. Journal of Project Management, 3, 55–88. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.jpm.2018.1.005
41. Hamzeh, A. M., Mousavi, S. M., & Gitinavard, H. (2020). Imprecise earned duration model for time evaluation of construction projects with risk considerations. Automation in Construction, 111, 102993. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2019.102993
42. Hennink, M., & Kaiser, B. N. (2022). Sample sizes for saturation in qualitative research: A systematic review of empirical tests. Social Science & Medicine, 292, 114523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114523
43. Hoque, Md. I., Safayet, Md. A., Rana, Md. J., Bhuiyan, A. Y., & Quraishy, G. S. (2023). Analysis of construction delay for delivering quality project in Bangladesh. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 41(2), 401–421. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-03-2021-0032
44. Hung, P., Miciak, M., Godziuk, K., Gross, D. P., & Forhan, M. (2024). Reducing weight bias and stigma in qualitative research interviews: Considerations for researchers. Obesity Reviews, 25(7), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13750
45. Islam, M. S., & Suhariadi, B. T. (2018). Construction delays in privately funded large building projects in Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Civil Engineering, 19(4), 415–429.
46. Ji, Y., Qi, L., Liu, Y., Liu, X., Li, H. X., & Li, Y. (2018). Assessing and Prioritising Delay Factors of Prefabricated Concrete Building Projects in China. Applied Sciences, 8(11), 2324. https://doi.org/10.3390/app8112324
47. Kim, J., & Bilbao, P. (2023). Why are the Frequently Reported Delay Factors in Construction Projects Recurring?: A Qualitative Study. International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering and Technology, 14(1), 21–31. https://doi.org/10.30880/ijscet.2023.14.01.003
48. KÜNKCÜ, H., KOC, K., GURGUN, A. P., & DAGOU, H. H. (2023). Operational Barriers against the Use of Smart Contracts in Construction Projects. Turkish Journal of Civil Engineering, 34(5), 81–106. https://doi.org/10.18400/tjce.1322972
49. K.V., P., V., V., R., V., & Bhat, N. (2019). Analysis of causes of delay in Indian construction projects and mitigation measures. Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, 24(1), 58–78. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFMPC-04-2018-0020
50. Ma, G., Gu, L., & Li, N. (2015). Scenario-Based Proactive Robust Optimization for Critical-Chain Project Scheduling. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 141(10). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001003
51. Ma, G., Jiang, S., Zhu, T., & Jia, J. (2019). A Novel Method of Developing Construction Projects Schedule under Rework Scenarios. Sustainability, 11(20), 5710. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11205710
52. Mahmoud, A. H. (2020). Factors affecting performance at the Iraqi Construction Projects, Ministry of Construction, and Housing and Municipalities and Public Works of Iraq as a case study. Asian Journal of Civil Engineering, 21(1), 105–118. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42107-019-00195-1
53. Melaku Belay, S., Tilahun, S., Yehualaw, M., Matos, J., Sousa, H., & Workneh, E. T. (2021). Analysis of Cost Overrun and Schedule Delays of Infrastructure Projects in Low Income Economies: Case Studies in Ethiopia. Advances in Civil Engineering, 2021, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/4991204
54. Muneeswaran, G., Manoharan, P., Awoyera, P. O., & Adesina, A. (2020). A statistical approach to assess the schedule delays and risks in Indian construction industry. International Journal of Construction Management, 20(5), 450–461. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2018.1484991
55. Muniz, L. R., Conceição, S. V., Rodrigues, L. F., de Freitas Almeida, J. F., & Affonso, T. B. (2021). Spare parts inventory management: a new hybrid approach. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 32(1), 40–67. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-12-2019-0361
56. Nafe Assafi, M., Hoque, M. I., & Hossain, M. M. (2022). Investigating the causes of construction delay on the perspective of organization-sectors involved in the construction industry of Bangladesh. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-10-2021-0137
57. Navarrete, M. S., Adrián, C., & Bachelet, V. C. (2022). Respondent-driven sampling: Advantages and disadvantages from a sampling method. Medwave, 22(01), e002528–e002528. https://doi.org/10.5867/medwave.2022.01.002528
58. Nowell, L. S., Norris, J. M., White, D. E., & Moules, N. J. (2017). Thematic analysis: Striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16(1), 1609406917733847.
59. Özen, A. E., Demirdöğen, G., Demirbağ, A. T., Aladağ, H., & Işık, Z. (2024). Generational Transformation and Its Reflection on Project Success: The Gen-Z. Turkish Journal of Civil Engineering, 35(6), 65–86. https://doi.org/10.18400/tjce.1375064
60. Panova, Y., & Hilletofth, P. (2018). Managing supply chain risks and delays in construction project. Industrial Management and Data Systems, 118(7), 1413–1431. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-09-2017-0422
61. Prateepasen, A., & Aumpiem, A. (2021). Problems Causing Delays and Risk Factors in Welding Construction Projects of Thailand. Engineering Journal, 25(5), 33–44. https://doi.org/10.4186/ej.2021.25.5.33
62. Rahman, M. M., Yap, Y. H., Ramli, N. R., Dullah, M. A., & Shamsuddin, M. S. W. (2017). Causes of shortage and delay in material supply: A preliminary study. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 271(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/271/1/012037
63. Rusnak, A. V., Nadtochii, I. I., Kolesnyk, A. V., Kotetunov, V. Y., & Issabayeva, A. B. (2021). Project management system of a competitive enterprise: an integrative approach. International Journal of Agricultural Extension, 9(Special Issue 2), 93–103. https://doi.org/10.33687/ijae.009.00.3966
64. Sanni-Anibire, M. O., Mohamad Zin, R., & Olatunji, S. O. (2022). Causes of delay in the global construction industry: a meta analytical review. International Journal of Construction Management, 22(8), 1395–1407. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2020.1716132
65. Saunders, B., Sim, J., Kingstone, T., Baker, S., Waterfield, J., Bartlam, B., Burroughs, H., & Jinks, C. (2018). Saturation in qualitative research: exploring its conceptualization and operationalization. Quality & Quantity, 52(4), 1893–1907. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-017-0574-8
66. Sharma, S. K., Mudgal, S. K., Gaur, R., Chaturvedi, J., Rulaniya, S., & Sharma, P. (2024). Navigating Sample Size Estimation for Qualitative Research. Journal of Medical Evidence, 5(2), 133–139. https://doi.org/10.4103/JME.JME_59_24
67. Singh, S., & Bala, A. (2018). Saurav Dixit and Deekshant Varshne, Critical Analysis of Causes of Delay in Residential Construction Projects in India. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET, 9(1), 330–345. http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/index.asp330http://http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=9&IType=1http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=9&IType=1http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/index.asp331
68. Starr, M. A. (2014). Qualitative and mixed‐methods research in economics: surprising growth, promising future. Journal of Economic Surveys, 28(2), 238–264. https://doi.org/10.1111/joes.12004
69. Stević, Ž., Bouraima, M. B., Subotić, M., Qiu, Y., Buah, P. A., Ndiema, K. M., & Ndjegwes, C. M. (2022). Assessment of Causes of Delays in the Road Construction Projects in the Benin Republic Using Fuzzy PIPRECIA Method. Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2022, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5323543
70. Suresh, D., & Annamalai, S. (2024). Effect of schedule management plan in project management worth using structural equation modelling. Anais Da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 96(2). https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202420230117
71. Umar, T. (2018). Causes of delay in construction projects in Oman. Middle East J. of Management, 5(2), 121. https://doi.org/10.1504/MEJM.2018.091132
72. Vacanas, Y., & Danezis, C. (2021). An overview of the risk of delay in Cyprus construction industry. International Journal of Construction Management, 21(4), 369–381. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2018.1541703
73. Wang, T.-K., Ford, D. N., Chong, H.-Y., & Zhang, W. (2018). Causes of delays in the construction phase of Chinese building projects. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 25(11), 1534–1551. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-10-2016-0227
74. Weng, L., Xue, L., Sayer, J., Riggs, R. A., Langston, J. D., & Boedhihartono, A. K. (2021). Challenges faced by Chinese firms implementing the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’: Evidence from three railway projects. Research in Globalization, 3, 100074. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resglo.2021.100074
75. Xing, W., Hao, J. L., Qian, L., Tam, V. W. Y., & Sikora, K. S. (2021). Implementing lean construction techniques and management methods in Chinese projects: A case study in Suzhou, China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 286, 124944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124944
76. Yang, J. (2021). Application Analysis of Computer Technology in Construction Project Schedule Control in Information Age. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1881(3), 032090. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1881/3/032090
77. Yap, J. B. H., Goay, P. L., Woon, Y. B., & Skitmore, M. (2021). Revisiting critical delay factors for construction: Analysing projects in Malaysia. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 60(1), 1717–1729. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.11.021
78. Zaman, U., Florez-Perez, L., Abbasi, S., Nawaz, S., Farías, P., & Pradana, M. (2022). A Stitch in Time Saves Nine: Nexus between Critical Delay Factors, Leadership Self-Efficacy, and Transnational Mega Construction Project Success. Sustainability, 14(4), 2091. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042091
79. Zidane, Y. J.-T., & Andersen, B. (2018). The top 10 universal delay factors in construction projects. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 11(3), 650–672. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMPB-05-2017-0052