Analyzing Construction Delays in Post-Conflict Economies: An Empirical Study of Causes and Mitigation Strategies in the Western Balkans

Muhamet Ahmeti; Mimoza Sylejmani

doi:10.31127/tuje.1780047

Analyzing Construction Delays in Post-Conflict Economies: An Empirical Study of Causes and Mitigation Strategies in the Western Balkans

Abstract

This study examines the critical factors contributing to construction delays in post-conflict economies, with a specific empirical focus on road infrastructure projects in the Western Balkans, particularly Kosovo. Through a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative surveys of 120 construction companies with qualitative case studies, we identify and categorize the primary barriers to timely project delivery. Our findings reveal that 78% of projects experience delays due to property resolution problems, 71% suffer from payment delays, and 67% of companies report inadequate capacity for complex projects. The analysis identifies five primary challenges: financial system inefficiencies, property resolution problems, limited technical capacity, regulatory uncertainties, and insufficient quality management systems. We introduce the "Kosovo Construction Delay Model" (KCDM) as a conceptual framework for understanding the factors that contribute to delays in post-conflict construction environments. The research contributes to construction management theory by contextualizing project delay mitigation in transitional economies while providing actionable recommendations for policymakers, industry professionals, and international development organizations. The findings demonstrate that addressing these foundational delays is a prerequisite for advancing sustainable construction practices, with implications for EU integration and regional economic development.

Keywords

Thanks

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the University for Business and Technology (UBT) in Prishtina, Kosovo, for its invaluable institutional support and for providing the necessary resources to conduct this research. We are deeply thankful to all the construction companies, project managers, and industry professionals across the Western Balkans who generously participated in this study by sharing their time, expertise, and valuable insights. Their contributions were fundamental to the empirical findings of this research. We also extend our appreciation to the research assistants from the Faculty of Architecture and Spatial Planning at UBT for their diligent work in data collection and administration. Furthermore, we acknowledge the various institutions, including the Kosovo Agency of Statistics, the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, and international bodies such as the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), whose publicly available reports and data served as crucial secondary sources for this analysis. Finally, we wish to thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive feedback and suggestions, which greatly helped in improving the quality of this manuscript.

References

World Bank. (2022). Western Balkans: Directions for the future - A new growth model for a sustained recovery. World Bank Group. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099529203062342252/pdf/IDU0e42ae32f0048304f74086d102b6d7a900223.pdf
International Monetary Fund. (2018). Western Balkans: Public infrastructure. IMF Discussion Paper, DP/2018/02. https://www.imf.org/en/-/media/Files/Publications/DP/2018/45547-western-balkans-public-infrastructure-020818.pdf
Kosovo Agency of Statistics (ASK). (2023). Statistikat e transportit: Bulletini i transportit, tremujori IV 2023. Republika e Kosovës. https://askapi.rks-gov.net/Custom/24f5c247-8e5d-4d07-8d35-eabf75d82c30.pdf
Orya, F., & Calahorra-Jimenez, M. (2024). Delays in Infrastructure Projects: Main Reasons in the Design, Procurement, and Construction Phases. Public Works Management & Policy, *30*(2), 261-280. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087724X241308310
Stabilisation and Association Council, Kosovo. (2022, July 21). State of Stabilisation and Association Assessment for Kosovo [Report]. Council of the European Union. https://kiesa.rks-gov.net/desk/inc/media/039C60AB-EE74-4CDE-8E49-7EDD70B5B0CA.pdf
Yakar, M. (2011). Using close range photogrammetry to measure the position of inaccessible geological features. Experimental Techniques, 35(1), 54-59.
Patrick X.W. Zou, Riza Yosia Sunindijo, Andrew R.J. Dainty,( 2014),A mixed methods research design for bridging the gap between research and practice in construction safety,Safety Science,Volume 70, Pages 316-326, ISSN 0925-7535, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2014.07.005
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2024). Western Balkans competitiveness outlook 2024: Regional profile. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/170b0e53-en

Assaf, S. A., & Al-Hejji, S. (2006). Causes of delay in large construction projects. International Journal of Project Management, 24(4), 349-357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2005.11.010
Khan, K. A., Khan, M. W., Ali, H., Riaz, M., & Khan, M. T. (2022). Analyzing the causes and mitigation strategies of delay in construction projects: A systematic review. Frontiers in Built Environment, 8, 799314. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2022.799314
Qorraj, G., Hajrullahu, A., & Qehaja, D. (2024). Absorption capacity and the European integration of the Western Balkans. Regional Science Policy & Practice, *16*(8), 100043. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100043
Aibinu, A. A., & Jagboro, G. O. (2002). The effects of construction delays on project delivery in Nigerian construction industry. International Journal of Project Management, 20(8), 593-599. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0263-7863(02)00028-5
Al-Kharashi, A., & Skitmore, M. (2009). Causes of delays in Saudi Arabian public sector construction projects. Construction Management and Economics, 27(1), 3-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446190802541457
-2023): Science mapping and visualization. Automation in Construction, 165, 105491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105491
Çelik, M. Ö., Kuşak, L., & Yakar, M. (2024). Assessment of groundwater potential zones utilizing geographic information system-based analytical hierarchy process, Vlse Kriterijumska Optimizacija Kompromisno Resenje, and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution methods: a case study in Mersin, Türkiye. Sustainability, 16(5), 2202.
Unel, F. B., Kusak, L., & Yakar, M. (2023). GeoValueIndex map of public property assets generating via Analytic Hierarchy Process and Geographic Information System for Mass Appraisal: GeoValueIndex. Aestimum, 82, 51-69.
Ministria e Transportit dhe Telekomunikacionit. (2022). *National transport strategy 2022-2030*. Republika e Kosovës. https://ask.rks-gov.net/Themes/Transportation
Yakar M, Yılmaz H M & Mutluoǧlu Ö (2010). Comparative evaluation of excavation volume by TLS and total topographic station based methods. Lasers in Engineering,19, 331-345.
Murgasova, V., Ilahi, N., Miniane, J., Scott, A., & Vladkova-Hollar, I. (2015). The Western Balkans: Public infrastructure challenges (IMF Discussion Paper No. 15/151). International Monetary Fund. https://www.imf.org/en/-/media/Files/Publications/DP/2018/45547-western-balkans-public-infrastructure-020818.pdf
European Investment Bank. (2024). EIB Group activities in the Western Balkans: 2023 overview. https://www.eib.org/files/publications/20240383_eib_activity_in_the_western_balkans_en.pdf
Nkoba, N., & Amoah, C. (2025). Curbing corruption and unethical practices in construction projects. International Journal of Construction Management, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2025.2567751
Sovacool, B. K., & Ryu, H. (2025). Beyond economies of scale: Learning from construction cost overrun risks and time delays in global energy infrastructure projects. Energy Research & Social Science, *123*, 104057. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2025.104057
Gohar, Hamed; Elhamahmy, Ahmed; Galal, Ahmed; Khalafallah, Ahmed (2024). Delays and Disputes in Public Infrastructure Projects: A Systemic Review and Risk-Based Mitigation Model. figshare. Journal contribution. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.29320610.v1
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). (2024). Industrial development report 2024: Navigating industrialization for a green, resilient and inclusive future. UNIDO. https://www.unido.org/idr2024
World Bank. (2024, Spring). Western Balkans regular economic report: Beyond the horizon (No. 25). World Bank Group. https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eca/publication/western-balkans-regular-economic-report
Şenol, H. İ., Kaya, Y., Yiğit, A. Y., & Yakar, M. (2024). Extraction and geospatial analysis of the Hersek Lagoon shoreline with Sentinel-2 satellite data. Survey Review, 56(397), 367-382.
Rönndahl, C., Bosch-Sijtsema, P., Rempling, R., & Karlsson, M. (2025). Making sense of collaboration in major infrastructure construction projects. Project Leadership and Society, *6*, 100178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plas.2025.100178
Balzano M, Marzi G, Turzo T (2025), "SMEs and institutional theory: major inroads and opportunities ahead". Management Decision, Vol. 63 No. 13 pp. 1–27, doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-05-2023-0734
OECD (2022), SME Policy Index: Western Balkans and Turkey 2022: Assessing the Implementation of the Small Business Act for Europe, SME Policy Index, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/b47d15f0-en.
Murgasova, V., Ilahi, N., Miniane, J., Scott, A., & Vladkova-Hollar, I. (2015). The Western Balkans: Public infrastructure challenges. International Monetary Fund. https://www.imf.org/en/-/media/Files/Publications/DP/2018/45547-western-balkans-public-infrastructure-020818.pdf
Zagia, F., Kajewski, S., Omrani, S., & Motamedisedeh, O. (2025). Prioritizing the key causes of construction project delay in different countries: a cross-sectional analysis of different project types. International Journal of Construction Management, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2025.2568103
Gao, Y., Xu, X., Yiu, T. W., & Wang, J. (2025). Transfer learning for smart construction: Advances and future directions. Automation in Construction, *175*, 106238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106238
Liao, L., Yang, C., & Quan, L. (2023). Construction supply chain management: A systematic literature review and future development. Journal of Cleaner Production, *382*, 135230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135230
European Investment Bank. (2020). Infrastructure investment in the Western Balkans. European Investment Bank. https://www.eib.org/files/efs/infrastructure_investment_in_the_western_balkans_en.pdf
European Investment Bank. (2020). Infrastructure investment in the Western Balkans. European Investment Bank. https://www.eib.org/files/efs/infrastructure_investment_in_the_western_balkans_en.pdf
Elalwani, E., & Çalışkan, E. B. (2024). Integrating BIM technology in construction for effective knowledge management: case studies and methodological insights. Turkish Journal of Engineering, 8(4), 647-655. https://doi.org/10.31127/tuje.1458923
Coşkun, H., & Sancar, S. (2021). Client satisfaction as perceived by Architects and Civil Engineers. Turkish Journal of Engineering, 5(3), 100-104. https://doi.org/10.31127/tuje.688291

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Infrastructure Engineering and Asset Management, Civil Construction Engineering, Production Technologies, Civil Engineering (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Muhamet Ahmeti ^*
0000-0002-1527-8430
Kosovo

Mimoza Sylejmani This is me
0000-0001-6360-6112
Kosovo

Early Pub Date

November 16, 2025

Publication Date

December 16, 2025

Submission Date

September 8, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 12, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31127/tuje.1780047

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA74FT53XX

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Ahmeti, M., & Sylejmani, M. (2025). Analyzing Construction Delays in Post-Conflict Economies: An Empirical Study of Causes and Mitigation Strategies in the Western Balkans. Turkish Journal of Engineering, 10(1), 252-266. https://doi.org/10.31127/tuje.1780047

AMA

1.Ahmeti M, Sylejmani M. Analyzing Construction Delays in Post-Conflict Economies: An Empirical Study of Causes and Mitigation Strategies in the Western Balkans. TUJE. 2025;10(1):252-266. doi:10.31127/tuje.1780047

Chicago

Ahmeti, Muhamet, and Mimoza Sylejmani. 2025. “Analyzing Construction Delays in Post-Conflict Economies: An Empirical Study of Causes and Mitigation Strategies in the Western Balkans”. Turkish Journal of Engineering 10 (1): 252-66. https://doi.org/10.31127/tuje.1780047.

EndNote

Ahmeti M, Sylejmani M (December 1, 2025) Analyzing Construction Delays in Post-Conflict Economies: An Empirical Study of Causes and Mitigation Strategies in the Western Balkans. Turkish Journal of Engineering 10 1 252–266.

IEEE

[1]M. Ahmeti and M. Sylejmani, “Analyzing Construction Delays in Post-Conflict Economies: An Empirical Study of Causes and Mitigation Strategies in the Western Balkans”, TUJE, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 252–266, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.31127/tuje.1780047.

ISNAD

Ahmeti, Muhamet - Sylejmani, Mimoza. “Analyzing Construction Delays in Post-Conflict Economies: An Empirical Study of Causes and Mitigation Strategies in the Western Balkans”. Turkish Journal of Engineering 10/1 (December 1, 2025): 252-266. https://doi.org/10.31127/tuje.1780047.

JAMA

1.Ahmeti M, Sylejmani M. Analyzing Construction Delays in Post-Conflict Economies: An Empirical Study of Causes and Mitigation Strategies in the Western Balkans. TUJE. 2025;10:252–266.

MLA

Ahmeti, Muhamet, and Mimoza Sylejmani. “Analyzing Construction Delays in Post-Conflict Economies: An Empirical Study of Causes and Mitigation Strategies in the Western Balkans”. Turkish Journal of Engineering, vol. 10, no. 1, Dec. 2025, pp. 252-66, doi:10.31127/tuje.1780047.

Vancouver

1.Muhamet Ahmeti, Mimoza Sylejmani. Analyzing Construction Delays in Post-Conflict Economies: An Empirical Study of Causes and Mitigation Strategies in the Western Balkans. TUJE. 2025 Dec. 1;10(1):252-66. doi:10.31127/tuje.1780047