https://www.mdu.se/

Purpose:  This study examines how deficiencies in the design phase affect construction project scheduling and overall project duration, with a focus on Swedish construction projects. The purpose is to analyse how common design-related risks influence critical activities and lead to delays, as well as to evaluate how preventive measures can reduce these effects. Method: The study is based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, including a literature review, a survey with industry professionals, an interview with a project manager, and a case study of the construction project Bavaria Bromma. A scenario-based schedule analysis was conducted using a real project schedule, where identified design deficiencies were applied to analyse their impact on project duration and critical activities. Results: The results show that unclear drawings, coordination issues, and late design changes are the most significant factors affecting project performance. Even relatively small deficiencies were found to create cascading delays due to dependencies between activities. The scenario analysis demonstrated that when these issues were introduced, the total project duration increased noticeably. However, the implementation of preventive measures, such as improved design review, better coordination, and earlier decision-making, significantly reduced delays. Conclusions: The study concludes that the design phase plays a critical role in determining project efficiency. Deficiencies in early stages can have substantial consequences for later phases of construction. By improving planning, communication, and coordination during the design phase, construction projects can reduce risks and improve overall project performance.