Assessment of client-related factors for delaying of public building construction projects in local government Authorities

Abstract

This study aimed to assess client-related factors influencing public building construction projects in the Arusha City Council (ACC). The specific objectives of the study were to assess the effect of inadequate project design on public buildings constructions, assess the effect of political intervention on public buildings constructions, and assess the influence of decision-making challenges on public buildings construction projects in Arusha City Council. The study used the descriptive research design and adopted the survey strategy. A mixed-method research approach (qualitative and quantitative) was employed to collect and analyze data from a sample of 55 participants. Tools used to collect primary data were the semi-structured questionnaire and interview guide. Cross tabulation with Chi-square tests was deployed to analyze data. The study found that inadequate project design, variations due to inadequate design, the effect of insufficient budget, inadequate project design, and insufficient professional staff are the main causes of delays in public buildings constructions project at Arusha City council (ACC). The study also found out that political intervention, decision making challenges such as bureaucracy, unnecessary directives by government officials, and delays in the payment of interim certificates are the causes of delaying public building construction projects in ACC. The study recommended that the government should employ an adequate number of building construction engineers, quality assurance officers, as well as project monitoring and evaluation officers who are expected to be tasked to ensure that projects are designed adequately and their execution is managed and monitored effectively. Also, the government should avail adequate budget for all public building construction works and should pay interim certificates timely to avoid delaying the projects. In addition, the government should formulate and institute a general guideline that obstructs politicians and government officers to be bid for public building construction works in their respective councils. This measure is expected to prevent conflict of interest among politicians and government officers