Work

Assessment of dispute causes in government building maintenance projects through adjusted importance rating and risk mapping

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Despite the reliance of Saudi Arabian government facilities on private contractors for maintenance, there is a persistent rise in disputes between these contractors and government entities. This ongoing issue raises concerns about the efficiency and effectiveness of contract management, ultimately affecting the quality of maintenance services and operational continuity. This study investigates the primary causes of disputes in government building maintenance projects, using both the Frequency Adjusted Importance Index (FAII) and risk mapping methods to analyze and prioritize the causes. A literature review and a designed questionnaire survey were employed to rank dispute causes. Thirty-six responses were analyzed. Cronbach's alpha and coefficient of variation were utilized to assess the collected data's validity and reliability. Three case studies then were utilized as a validation tool, compared against the findings of the survey to integrate practical insights with the theoretical results from the survey. The findings reveal that issues such as (1) the lack of original as-built drawings, (2) constant government interference, (3) delays in decision-making, (4) poorly defined scope of work, and (5) mistakes in bidding or cost estimation are the most critical causes of disputes in these projects. Cross-method validation with real-world case studies further strengthens the reliability of these findings, as these top-ranked causes consistently align with issues encountered in practice. The findings of this study could assist local authorities adopt alternative approaches in managing and executing maintenance contracts, thereby mitigating the causes of disputes.

Source: Results in Engineering

DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2024.103551

Authors: Mouath Masaud Alghamdi, Ali Shash, Adel Alshaibani, Khwaja Mateen Mazher

Institution: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

Language: English

Topic: Construction Project Management and Performance

Subfield: Management Science and Operations Research

Field: Decision Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,490