Understanding the Root Causes of Construction Claims: A Narrative Review of Determinants and Preventive Strategies

OpenAlex English

Construction projects are inherently vulnerable to claims due to their multifaceted nature, involvement of multiple stakeholders, complex contracts, and dynamic site conditions. Claims are common issues within the construction industry, often leading to disputes and significantly impacting the successful delivery of projects. Facing many claims increases the resource requirements necessary for project completion, resulting in resource wastage. This research undertakes a narrative review to identify, classify, and interpret the determinants of construction claims by aggregating evidence from 21 peer-reviewed papers and graduate theses published between 2006 and 2024. The sources were selected through non-systematic searches from Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Türkiye's National Thesis Center, with priority given to research that had examined claim causation and resolution explicitly. The analysis demonstrated that the most common reasons for the generation of claims were ambiguities in the contracts, deficiencies in designs, delayed payments, and inadequate communication among the stakeholders. Particular roles were often overlapping or shared among the consultants (defective or incomplete designs), the contractors (mismanagement of the site, resource deficiencies), and the employers (scheduling expectations that could not possibly be met, financial constraints). While no single party could be held solely accountable in many cases, the data emphasized the interdependent nature of claim triggers. The research concludes that the reciprocal mitigation of claim generation necessitates a systems-based approach involving strong frameworks for contracts, improved coordination among stakeholders, planning during the preliminary stages, and the integration of advanced technologies.