A project control framework for the Libyan construction industry.

Time and cost overruns are one of the biggest issues facing the construction industry and affecting delivery in terms of time, cost and quality. Libyan construction projects experience these problems, often to a greater extent than most others. This can be attributed to both unexpected and expected risk factors that are not effectively dealt with. A focus on control is therefore vital in order to improve the performance of construction projects. The chief purpose of this study is to explore and understand the main characteristics of the Libyan construction industry (LCI) and its associated processes and operations, as well as to identify the major obstacles constraining its practices. It will also develop and validate a framework through which to manage risk factors that significantly affect a project's time and cost performance.The initial proposed framework for the design of project cost and time control is based on previous studies; other practices regarding control are derived from the findings in the literature. The framework was reviewed and refined through iterative processes. Semi-structured interviews with professionals in Libyan organisations were used to investigate how costs and schedules of construction projects are controlled in practice and to discover the reasons and related issues that affect the process of cost and time control in practice. Survey questionnaire I was conducted to identify the major risk factors causing time and cost overruns in Libyan projects. The framework for minimising cost and time overruns was subsequently validated by the perception of the professionals (contractors, consultants and owners) involved in the LCI who participated in questionnaires II and III. Both, theory and practice have been linked through the literature review and the involvement of practitioners to develop a framework by which cost and time overruns in Libyan construction projects can be minimised. It is envisaged that the developed framework will lead to changes in LCI projects, since practitioners can be more systematic in dealing with the factors leading to cost and time overruns. This will further provide improved current practices in delivering better quality construction projects that satisfy clients' requirements and in which cost and time overruns are minimised.