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In groundwater construction projects, many variables affect construction schedule and cost overruns. This paper aims to examine and evaluate the relative importance of the main factors that cause delay and cost overruns in groundwater construction projects. In order to identify these factors, a questionnaire survey was conducted. Questionnaires were sent to professionals involved in groundwater construction projects in Ghana. The data was analyzed and ranked, based on the profession of the respondents and their roles in the industry (i.e. owners, contractors and consultants). The questionnaire survey consisted of 49 factors which were grouped into nine major categories, and the level of importance of the categories was measured and ranked by the relative importance weights. The percentage agreements in ranking among the three groups were measured. The results shows that: (1) the surveyed groups generally agreed that the project financing category is the main reason for groundwater construction delay and cost overruns, whereas the labor category is the least; (2) owners, consultants and contractors substantially agree on the ranking of the major categories of delay and cost overruns factors. The paper concludes that all the three groups felt that project financing, micro-economics, natural conditions and materials factor categories play a predominant role in causing delay and cost overruns to groundwater construction projects.

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This study addresses the process of risk identification at the tendering and estimating stage, which is the first stage of the risk management process, and for the risk management process be of benefit and for the project objectives to be achieved, the risk identification stage should be very detailed and thorough. The aim of this study is to identify, investigate and evaluate the process of risk identification at the tendering and estimating stage for construction contractors in the NSW region. The data for this were collected during the months of December '94 and January '95 using a sample survey of a cross-section of 19 construction contractors, and the results were analysed using frequency distribution. The results show that the most frequently used methods of risk identification are the top-down approach techniques, where the project is analysed from an overall point of view. Techniques based on top-down approach lead to guesswork in terms of contingency for risks accepted by the construction contractors. Bottom-up risk identification techniques are not popular except for a questionnaire and check-list approach. Also, it was unlikely that the contractors would discuss risk allocation with the clients. All the contractors interviewed agreed that when a risk identification process is followed it improves the accuracy of their estimates.Risk Identification, Estimating, Tendering, Contractor,

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