Surreal illustration of a construction site symbolizing overcoming obstacles to achieve project efficiency.

Decoding Construction Chaos: How to Build a Smooth Project

Soraya Malik in Tech & Innovation August 2025 • 3 min read.

"Uncover the hidden roadblocks that can derail your construction dreams and learn practical strategies to overcome them."

Construction projects are notorious for their complexity. Optimizing resources like workforce, time, cost, and quality is crucial. Constructability is the concept that aims to make projects easier to build, but it's often easier said than done.

In a world where construction projects are becoming increasingly complicated, and the number of failed and abandoned projects continues to rise, the need to integrate constructability principles is more critical than ever. Without it, projects can suffer from poor coordination, delays, and cost overruns.

This article dives into the hidden world of 'constructability obstacles' – the sneaky problems that get in the way of smooth construction. We'll break down a study that identifies and categorizes these obstacles, offering a practical guide to help construction professionals, project managers, and anyone involved in building projects understand and overcome these challenges.

What Are Constructability Obstacles?

Surreal illustration of a construction site symbolizing overcoming obstacles to achieve project efficiency.

Think of constructability as a project management philosophy focused on making the construction process as efficient and trouble-free as possible. It's all about considering how easy or difficult a design will be to build in the real world, and then making adjustments early on to avoid problems later.

Essentially, constructability aims to optimize the use of resources – workforce, time, money, and materials – while maintaining high quality and a safe working environment. When constructability is ignored, projects are more likely to suffer from:

Delays
Budget overruns
Safety hazards
Quality issues
Communication breakdowns

A research study examined a comprehensive list of potential obstacles that can hinder the implementation of constructability on construction projects. The study, which used a questionnaire to gather data from experts in the field, identified 63 distinct obstacles. These obstacles were then categorized into five key macro-factors:

The Future of Constructability

By understanding these obstacles and taking proactive steps to address them, construction professionals can pave the way for more efficient, cost-effective, and successful projects. Ignoring constructability can lead to increased costs, delays, and reduced quality. Embracing this philosophy is a crucial step towards a more streamlined and effective construction industry.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1080/15623599.2018.1534044, Alternate LINK

Title: Constructability Obstacles: An Exploratory Factor Analysis Approach

Subject: Management of Technology and Innovation

Journal: International Journal of Construction Management

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Authors: Samereh Jadidoleslami, Ehsan Saghatforoush, Ahad Zare Ravasan

Published: 2018-12-03

Everything You Need To Know

What is the core focus of constructability in construction projects?

Constructability focuses on making the construction process as efficient and trouble-free as possible. It involves considering the ease or difficulty of building a design in the real world and making adjustments early on to avoid potential problems. The goal is to optimize the use of resources like workforce, time, money, and materials while maintaining high quality and a safe working environment. When Constructability is not considered it causes: Delays, Budget overruns, Safety hazards, Quality issues, and Communication breakdowns.

What are the potential negative consequences of ignoring constructability in a construction project?

Ignoring constructability can lead to several negative outcomes. Projects are more likely to experience delays, budget overruns, safety hazards, quality issues, and communication breakdowns. These issues can significantly impact the overall success and efficiency of a construction project, increasing costs and potentially damaging the reputation of those involved.

How does constructability relate to the optimization of project resources?

Constructability is directly linked to the optimization of project resources. It aims to ensure the most effective use of the workforce, time, money, and materials throughout the construction process. By considering constructability, project managers can make informed decisions that minimize waste, reduce delays, and improve overall project efficiency, ultimately leading to cost savings and higher-quality outcomes. This also includes the safety of the workforce.

What are some of the key macro-factors that were identified in the research study concerning constructability obstacles?

The article mentions that a research study examined numerous obstacles that can hinder constructability implementation, which were then categorized into five key macro-factors. However, the specific details of these macro-factors are not explicitly provided in the text. To understand the specifics of the obstacles, one would need to refer to the original study, but the article does emphasize the importance of understanding and addressing these obstacles to ensure project success.

Why is the integration of constructability principles becoming increasingly important in the construction industry today?

The integration of constructability principles is becoming increasingly crucial due to the growing complexity of construction projects and the rising number of failed or abandoned projects. Implementing constructability helps mitigate issues such as poor coordination, delays, and cost overruns. By proactively addressing potential constructability obstacles, construction professionals can pave the way for more efficient, cost-effective, and successful projects, thus ensuring project success in a challenging environment.