Planned and unplanned schedule compression: the impact on labour

Constructors confronted with the need to compress or accelerate a construction schedule face the potential for extreme difficulties. Unfortunately, a limited knowledge base exists for determining the techniques, methods, or concepts to be employed in mitigating these potential negative outcomes of lower labour productivity rates and higher project costs. This paper explores the impacts of planned and unplanned schedule compression on labour productivity. Additional impacts of schedule compression related to project costs and schedule duration are also evaluated. Telephone interviews and questionnaire surveys primarily were used as the means for data collection to determine which methods of schedule compression identified are most effective in each of the aforementioned areas. Members of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) were used as the data source for this investigation because of their diversified experience and because of the support received from NECA management. A number of schedule compression methods are presented that have been shown to be effective.