Exploration of time delay and cost overrun in Libyan public housing projects

There is great concern in Libya about the delays in public sector projects. Libyan construction projects habitually deviate from estimated timelines and financial profiles. Such frequent failures impose a financial burden on the state and causes significant delays in the implementation of these essential public projects. Globally, there has been considerable debate on how to minimise risk factors that affect completion of such construction projects. Whilst literature specific to Libya reveals ineffective project management practices typify Libyan construction projects with extensive time and cost overrun not only accepted, but seen as routine practice. As long ago as 2004 the Libyan government acknowledged that their contractors by and large provided a highly ineffective and inefficient service with little credence given to the need for effective risk management yet little action to address these failings subsequently followed. Contributing to this body of work, the results from an exploratory qualitative survey based on a series of 16 semi-structured interviews undertaken with Libyan construction professionals are reported. The rich data emerging from the interview process provides a valuable insight into the specific nature of project risk and effectiveness of risk management techniques in Libya. Whilst the respondents emphasized their unfamiliarity with risk management, a myriad of project risks emerged from the interviews suggesting project overruns in Libya are a resultant effect of failings to initiate effective project management.