1. Similarities Across the Research Papers
Across the uploaded papers, several common themes emerge that directly relate to construction
delays:
a. Identification of Root Causes

Papers like “A mixed-method investigation of the root causes of construction project delays in
Saudi Arabia” emphasize the importance of systematically identifying delay causes (e.g.,
poor planning, lack of communication, contractor incompetency).

Your FYP will also benefit from classifying and prioritizing delay factors.
b. Data-Driven Decision Making

The paper “Comparative analysis of deep learning algorithms for predicting time and cost
overrun in construction projects” suggests using predictive models (ML/DL) to anticipate
delays and cost overruns.

Although your FYP might not focus heavily on deep learning, the principle of using data to
predict and avoid delays is highly relevant.
c. Stakeholder Engagement

Many papers indirectly show that lack of stakeholder communication contributes to delays.

Your FYP could explore communication strategies as a key delay-reducing approach.
d. Need for a Strategic Framework

Both papers indicate that just identifying causes is not enough; what matters is designing
effective strategies to mitigate them—precisely your project focus.
🔑 2. Key Components to Adopt Before Starting Your FYP
Here are components from the papers that you should integrate into your research design:
Component
How to Apply It
Delay Cause Classification
Group causes by categories like project-related, contractor-related,
external factors, etc. Use tables or fishbone diagrams.
Mixed-Method Approach
Combine surveys (quantitative) and interviews (qualitative), like in the
Saudi paper. Gives richer, triangulated data.
Risk and Impact Matrix
Rank causes based on frequency and severity to prioritize which to
address.
Benchmarking with
Literature
Use past research in similar countries or climates to compare patterns
and highlight gaps.
Component
How to Apply It
Predictive Indicators
(Optional Advanced)
If possible, apply simple predictive logic (e.g., if multiple causes are
present, what is the likely project delay duration?)
🎯 3. Parts You Must Understand Deeply
To conduct your FYP successfully, focus on:
Section
What to Learn From It
Literature Review Sections
Understand how others structured their reviews, synthesized
findings, and justified their research.
Methodology
Pay close attention to how data was collected and analyzed—
especially mixed methods.
Findings and Discussions
See how they connect delay causes to strategies.
Conclusion and
Recommendations
Understand how to summarize findings and propose actionable
insights.
Tables and Models
Look at how delay causes are grouped, scored, or modeled—this will
help your own survey design.
✨ Tips to Impress Your SV
Here are tips to summarize these papers smartly and leave a strong impression:
📌 Use a Comparative Table
Create a simple table that compares:

Authors and year

Country/context

Method used

Key causes of delay found

Recommended strategies

Relevance to your FYP
📌 Show Your Thinking Process
Instead of just summarizing, say things like:
“I noticed that in both the Saudi and AI-driven studies, poor contractor performance repeatedly
came up as a top delay cause. This leads me to include ‘contractor evaluation methods’ as one of my
proposed strategies.”
📌 Propose a Conceptual Framework
Create a simple visual framework of “Cause → Effect → Strategy,” based on the literature. You can
adapt models like:

Fishbone Diagram

Cause-effect matrix

Strategic Intervention Flowchart
Paper: A mixed-method investigation of the root causes of construction project delays in Saudi Arabia

Method: Survey + interviews with 63 industry experts

Key Causes: Delay in progress payments, poor site management, ineffective planning,
contractor's financial issues

Strategy Suggestions: Better project planning, stakeholder engagement, cash flow
monitoring

Relevance to FYP: Supports the need to design a strategic approach that includes financial
control and planning as top priorities