Is the competence of internal stakeholders in construction projects an antidote to construction contract disputes?

Previous research on construction disputes has focused on identifying general sources of disputes. However, the occurrence of disputes follows causal sequences which have not been sufficiently studied. With increasing investment in megaprojects, the construction industry is bound to suffer consequences of disputes whose occurrence mechanisms have not been thoroughly investigated. Against this background, research was undertaken to improve the understanding of causal sequences of sources of disputes to facilitate better project performance. The research adopted a single case study strategy of an infrastructure megaproject. Secondary data including project reports, contract documents, minutes of meetings, and project communications were collected and analysed using thematic analysis. The findings show that while the sources of the dispute studied are numerous, their primary cause is the limited competence of internal project stakeholders. The results demonstrate the need for improving the competence of construction professionals in the areas of construction contracts, procurement management, contract administration, and project governance.