Schedule Delay Analysis of Construction Projects in Ghana: Objectives, Importance and Effects

The critical observance of time allocation and sequence of operation of construction activities are essential for construction project managers, as delays in construction projects have negative impact on clients and contractors. This study aims at assessing the objectives, importance and effects of schedule delay in construction project execution in Ghanaian construction industries. The research design adopted for this study was descriptive survey using quantitative method. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 80 respondents. Opinion of employees was solicited using a structured questionnaire for data collection. The data was analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. The result showed that, major objectives of scheduling in construction projects are to expose and adjust conflicts between trades or subcontractors, to serve as an effective project control tools and to resolve delay claims. The study also revealed that the primary importance of scheduling in construction are to finish projects on time, and to ensure customer satisfaction. Furthermore, it was established that lack of scheduling of construction projects contribute to delays and causes disruptions of construction projects. The study concludes that to ensure timely delivery of construction project, the project objectives, importance of scheduling and effects of scheduling are key factors to consider in order to avoid delays. Keywords: construction project, disruption, project planning, project delay, schedulin