Delay analysis methods are tools used to determine the effects caused by different types of delay. When choosing which delay analysis methodology to use, several considerations must be taken into account.
The choice of one of the six methods mentioned above and their variants depends on the following factors:
Contractual requirements - Some contracts specify in their requirements the delay analysis method to be used, so the choice of any other method is ruled out. On the other hand, when the contract does not mention the method to be used for extension of time requests, the analyst is free to choose the method to apply, while always considering certain contract clauses, such as impact on the critical path or causation of delay to the contractual completion date.
Time available to carry out the analysis - The choice of method will depend on the time available to perform the analysis. Therefore, if the deadline for submitting an extension of time request is short, it will be more convenient to use a simple analysis method that can be applied quickly.
Purpose of the analysis - The objective of the analysis must be considered. For example, the purpose may be to highlight a specific delay, submit an extension of time request or prepare an expert report for legal proceedings.
Availability and reliability of information - The choice of any method is strongly linked to the availability of validated and reliable information. It is necessary to determine the availability of contemporary project documentation and then determine which documents are reliable and provide the information required for the analysis.
Skill of the analyst and available resources - Another important factor is the analyst's experience in carrying out delay analyses. In addition, the analyst must have the ability to use a tool that allows the analysis to be performed reliably. It is also advisable to be very organised and to understand how to process the available information.
Dispute forum - Once the analysis has been carried out, the results must be presented and understood. A precise and detailed report is useless if it is not understood by the people who must mediate or decide the dispute. In arbitration cases, where there is usually more construction experience than in court cases, more complex methods and more detailed analyses can be used.
Nature of the delay events and of the project itself - Some projects, because of their typology, may allow one method to be implemented more easily than others.
Previous use of methods by the other party - The analyst must take into account the method used by the other party in order to object to the errors or gaps that method may present compared with the method applied by the analyst.
For the application of modelled methods, the use of Primavera P6 is recommended because of several advantages. These include the possibility of calculating the critical path as the longest path or by using total float; the way the software is programmed in relation to the data date, recalculating activities and progressing the programme; and the ability to group activities from several projects at the same time, together with its great power.