Abstract:
This research attempts to analyze the causes of design-build project problems and find solutions to help project employers prevent problems that are occurred by character of the design-build contract. This research includes six case study projects. Initiallly, the researcher conducted a survey of the problems and interviewed experts who have experience in design-build projects. Data from the survey and interview was analyzed to find the cause of project promblems using fault tree diagram. Solutions for preventing the problems are a result of brainstorming experts and using Delphi technique. Results of the research indicate that the main project problems are cost overrun and project delay. Two main causes of these problems are the consequential results fro the character of the design-build contract and other factors such as expropriation and utility relocation delay. This research focuses only causes from the character of design-build contract. Variation order is the main cause of cost overrun problems. Requirement definition problems, design problems and approving plan problems are the causes of project delay. The results provide important solutions that can prevent these problems. First, any agreements with other departments should be recorded as documents listing the requirements of each agreement and added to the employer's requirements. Second, employers should use architectonic plans for showing architectural requirements instead of a text provision only. Third, term of references should require that the design-builder use animation for project presentation. Fourth, contracts should require that the design-builder must issue a fine construction plan within 1-3 weeks after start of project. Fifth, employers should have a representative with authority available at all times to coordinate and make decisions. Sixth, employers should define design milestones. Last, if the project has many approvers, all of them should approve plans together in one step. Moreover, results of the contract analysis indicate that the design-build contract should be accrued some provisions in addition to those in the traditional contract. It is hoped that these findings will help guide employers in managing design-build projects with minimal problems in the future