| dc.description.abstract | Construction disputes are on the rise globally. They adversely affect the progress and quality of a construction project by resulting in cost overruns and delays. Very often, disputes are a direct result of improper administration of contracts or failure to understand contractual obligations. In this regard, it is valuable to analyze the standard form contacts being used today for their effectiveness.
This study was an attempt to identify the most disputed clauses in construction in the US and the UK, and to evaluate the wording used by ConsensusDOCS in addressing these issues in the US. There exists several studies that either deal with comparison of one provision only or the entire general conditions of two contracts. Unlike what has been already done, this study attempts to perform seminal research in the area by first identifying the most disputed clauses and then determining the cause through a survey of industry professionals.
The findings of the study revealed that the four most disputed areas are the same in the two countries - delay, defects, changes and payment, indicating the pervasiveness of these issues. Further interviews of construction industry professionals suggested that improving contractual language will lead to a definite decrease in the number of disputes in construction. | en |
