Analysis of Claims Related to the Employer’s Project Manager in Construction Projects

Abstract

In the construction industry, various factors can impact project costs and performance. To ensure projects are executed within the scheduled timeframe, budget, and desired quality, it is crucial to minimize the causes of discrepancies. Among the project elements, including the employer, contractor, project managers (employer and contractor), and consultants, each has responsibilities to prevent claims in projects. The employer’s project manager plays a significant role in the causes of claims, necessitating a focus on preventing claims associated with their performance. This research aims to investigate disputes in construction projects, starting with the identification and categorization of the causes of claims. The role and responsibility of the employer’s project manager in managing these causes are analyzed to facilitate accurate project management and prevent claims. Through a literature review, expert opinions, and previous studies, the causes of claims in construction projects prevalent in the Iranian construction industry are identified and categorized. Pearson’s correlation coefficient is employed to determine the degree of correlation among the identified causes using the Python programming language. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) technique in expert choice software is utilized to rank the identified causes. The research findings present the final classification of the causes of claims, consisting of six main groups with subcategories, totaling 32 causes. The linear relationships between the identified causes and their correlation and impact on each other are determined. The ranking of the identified causes is conducted twice: first, based on their occurrence in construction projects, and second, considering their correlation with the performance of the employer’s project manager. By analyzing both rankings, a final rating is obtained, which reflects the relationship between the employer’s project manager’s performance and the occurrence of causes. The final list provides practical insights into the causes of claims and their practical implications.