Critical Uncertainty Factors Impacting Building Construction Projects in India

Abstract

Known Uncertainty (KnU) factors are known to the project stakeholder as knowledge, but their occurrence and cost impact are uncertain in a given construction project. The determination of these factors is subjective at the planning stage. This can be achieved by analysing several projects in a given typology and characterising their occurrence. This paper presents the most critical and important (KnU) factors through extensive literature study, expert judgment, and secondary data. The (KnU) factors were ranked based on literature appearance in selected journals, and the top 30 (KnU) factors were selected for expert judgment to find the top 10 (KnU) factors in the Indian context. Further, secondary data was collected from published records of the Comptroller of Audit General (CAG) of India to find the (KnU) factors in building construction projects that faced cost overruns. The top (KnU) factors from literature, expert judgement and secondary data have been compared and catogorised. Based on the analysis, the (KnU) factors are categorised as the most critical and important. The most critical (KnU) factors are changes initiated by the stakeholder, material price fluctuation, and slow decision making. Based on secondary data, the recommendations for the top 5 (KnU) factors are developed.