Unearthing the Difficulties in the Information Management of Disruption Claims

Abstract

Information about disruption events and their impacts is of vital importance in substantiating and resolving disruption claims. However, difficulties in the management of required information create complexities for contracting parties during disruption claims. This study investigated existing difficulties in the collection, storage, access, analysis, and presentation of different categories of required information for disruption claims. For this purpose, semistructured interviews of 22 disruption claim experts in Australia were conducted; the experts have vast experience in the preparation, assessment, and resolution of disruption claims. A total of 56 difficulties were identified in the information management of disruption claims. The results showed that maximum number of difficulties exists in the information collection process (24) and in the category of progress, site, and resource information. There were fewer difficulties (13) in the information storage and access process and in the category of contract information. Site workers being occupied with construction tasks, construction staff leaving projects, extraction of relevant information, incorrect recordings, and time consumption were found to be the most common difficulties in managing the required information for disruption claims. Moreover, the identified difficulties often result in failure to demonstrate the cause and impact and in the rejection of disruption claims. Subsequently, this study sheds light on developing strategies and tools for improving the information management of disruption claims to reduce the complexities faced by contracting parties in the preparation, assessment, and resolution of disruption claims. Additionally, it also contributes to minimize the potential for and impact of disputes in construction projects due to disruption claims.