Construction Project Budget Overruns: Attributes of Stakeholders to Scope Changes in South Africa

Abstract

Joint project interdependency complexities between diverse project stakeholders in the project life cycle are implicated as a major cause of budget overruns. In particular, the literature reveals that scope changes emanating from various stakeholders’ interests or attributes are a key contributing factor to budget overruns. However, there is limited research and a lack of available literature on various stakeholders’ contributions to scope changes. Therefore, this study sought to establish various stakeholders’ contribution to scope changes. A qualitative research design was adopted, utilising semi-structured interviews to collect data from thirteen construction project managers. NVivo was used to analyse transcribed responses. It emerged that clients, architects, quantity surveyors, end-users, consultants, contractors, government, political office bearers and community were the most prominent construction project stakeholders contributing to scope change-related cost overruns. Misinterpretation of the client’s needs, incompetence of construction practitioners, political influence and construction mafia interference were found to be major causes of scope change-related cost overruns. It is recommended that experienced construction practitioners are selected for project scoping. Furthermore, construction project practitioners involved in decision-making should accurately understand diverse stakeholders’ interests and work cooperatively with them in resolving scope change-related cost overruns. Government intervention is required to resolve construction mafia interference at construction sites.