Reasons for the lack of competitiveness of the portuguese construction industry

The last few years have confirmed what was mostly feared: Portuguese construction industry suffers from a chronic disease - the lack of competitiveness. Symptoms have long been recognised in several construction projects: frequent delays, cost overruns, deficient safety, absent quality. The authors have been carrying out several studies whose aiming at are clarify reasons for the lack of competitiveness of national construction industry on the four items mentioned above. This paper occurs mainly about the aims of PhD` survey about construction delays. It has the following mains components: (1) to research and analysis bibliography and establish a common set of causes and background reasons for the problem; (2) to inquire to Portuguese construction stakeholders on the causes and background reasons for project delays following from their experience in recent projects; (3) to establish possible paths to solve the problem. The survey results appear to confirm the original list of causes for delays of the study. The mains reasons are related with designer problems, poor productivity, procurement system, overly optimistic planning, and frequent change orders during construction and so on. Thereafter, the paper will seek what could possibly be done and from which parties, in order to correct the above problems and improve construction competitiveness. The most highly ranked on a scale of relevance by stakeholders were implementation a national database with the quantity works list for different construction projects, a more appropriate and efficient organizational systems within design teams and a need for greater care on the part of the owners when they prepare their schedules and preliminary programmes.Science and Technology Foundation, in Portuguese - Project SAPIENS Nº 4762 "Reasons for the lack of accomplishment of schedule, costs and safety objectives in construction".LEONARDO DA VINCI - Community Vocational Training Action Programme Second, Phase 2000-2006 - Project PL/04/B/P/PP/-174 417 "Recognition of needs and creation of professional training in the area of preparation and management of infrastructure construction projects financed by the European Union"