An exploratory study into recurring construction problems

The pattern of recurring construction problems encountered in electrical transmission substation projects is a very pertinent phenomenon. The purpose of this study is to explore the possible reasons for such recurrences and to uncover unusual factors. To achieve this, unstructured interviews were conducted. A list of possible reasons were collected. The reasons were found to be interrelated and have mutual influence. The study revealed four unusual factors: 'management did not care', 'inherited problems from earlier phases', 'perceptions of project success were not the same', and 'projects were completed anyway'. The study also uncovered some underlying conceptual ambiguities in which further investigations were necessary. These ambiguities included the perspectives of project, the perception of project success and the criteria of project success.