Reasons for delays in public projects in Turkey

The effects of construction delays are not confined to the construction industry but influence the state of the overall economy of a country. This is particularly so in Turkey where construction investments account for almost half of all investments and where delays have reached significant magnitudes in the 1970–80 decade. A Iurge number of public agencies that are construction owners and a large number of contractors that undertake construction work for public agencies in Turkey were surveyed to identify and rank in an order of importance the causes for such delays. The results indicate that shortages of some resources; public agencies' and contractors' fincincial dfiiculties; organizational deficiencies and delays in design work, frequent chunge orders and considerable extra work are the most important sources of delay. While some of the causes are dependent on national economic policies, others may be overcome by measures to be taken by public agencies and contractors.