Time and Cost Overrun in Construction Projects in Ecuador: Main Causes and Risk Factors

The analysis of the causes of time and cost overruns in construction projects has attracted much attention worldwide in recent decades. These causes usually vary from country to country and depend on aspects such as the kind of project, the environment, the construction company's features, etc. This study aims to identify the main causes of delay and cost overrun in Ecuador's construction projects and analyze the main factors influencing their occurrence. A total of 72 causes were collected from a literature review. Through the Delphi method, a group of experts identified Ecuador's most important causes. Subsequently, the information from 53 civil engineering and building projects was gathered through a questionnaire survey to identify and evaluate the risks of project delays and cost overruns perceived by construction professionals in Ecuador. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric analyses were performed. Results highlighted that the main causes of time and cost overrun are the weather, unexpected conditions in the construction site, design changes from the owner, incomplete drawings, and mistakes or incomplete designs. However, these results vary significantly depending on the project type and the company size.