Revisiting causes of disputes: perspectives of project participants, phases of project and project characteristics

Abstract

Dispute management is a proactive way to avoid disputes beforehand and resolve them effectively once disputes have materialised. Thus, dispute management should begin at early stage of project where different project characteristics are originated. On this note, the current research revisits the causes of disputes from different perspectives; project phases, project participants, and project characteristics. A comprehensive literature review was carried out by referring key research papers and books in the areas of disputes and related issues. Firstly, a total of 50 causes were identified and analysed using frequency count in order to identify the significant causes of disputes. Secondly, those causes were sub-themed into project participants, phases of project and project characteristics. The research revealed that the causes of variations, inadequate/incomplete drawings and specifications and payment delays are the most significant causes of dispute. Further, the research found that contractor is responsible for the variations and poor quality of work during construction stage of a project. The consultant is responsible for inadequate/ incomplete drawings and specifications which occur during design and tendering stages. Client mainly responsible for payment delays during construction stage of a project and scope changes throughout the project. Thus, the identified causes have further clustered under project phases and responsible parties. The consultant, contractor, and client are contributing to disputes in terms of 11, 7 and 6 numbers of causes respectively. The study found that there is link between the key project characteristics and causes of dispute. Thus, the research identified around eight key project characteristics have influenced in certain causes of disputes. Thus, the review concludes that the disputes need to be addressed in every stage of construction project and by each party to contract. In addition, the review recommends that there is possibility to manage disputes through the view point of project characteristics at the early stage of construction projects.