Table 8 Average Recorded Optimism Bias for Civil Engineering Projects

Recorded Optimism Bias (%)16

Non-standard Civil Engineering

Standard Civil Engineering

15

66

-

5

34

44

-

-

Works Duration

Capital Expenditure

Operating Expenditure

Benefits Shortfall

Works Duration

Capital Expenditure

Operating Expenditure

Benefits Shortfall

Risk Area Contributions to Recorded Optimism Bias (%)17

Non-standard Civil Engineering

Standard Civil Engineering

Procurement

Complexity of Contract Structure

2

9

-

3

-

-

Late Contractor Involvement in Design

-

5

-

-

Poor Contractor Capabilities

2

6

-

14

-

-

Government Guidelines

-

-

-

Dispute and Claims Occurred

18

-

31

-

-

Information management

1

3

-

-

-

Other (specify)

1

1

-

4

-

-

Project Specific

Design Complexity

5

3

-

12

-

-

Degree of Innovation

15

7

-

12

-

-

Environmental Impact

2

-

-

-

Other (specify)

-

1

58

39

-

-

Client Specific

Inadequacy of the Business Case

10

39

-

5

-

-

Large Number of Stakeholders

-

-

-

Funding Availability

2

-

17

5

-

-

Project Management Team

1

4

-

-

-

Poor Project Intelligence

3

4

-

15

10

-

-

Other (specify)

-

-

-

Environment

Public Relations

-

-

-

Site Characteristics

2

-

8

5

-

-

Permits / Consents / Approvals

-

-

-

Other (specify)

-

-

-

Political

-

-

-

Economic

27

1

-

33

10

-

-

External Influences

Legislation / Regulations

1

3

-

2

-

-

Technology

7

1

-

-

-

Other (specify)

5

12

-

11

-

-