The Factor analysis and principal component analysis of project delays during the Covid-19 pandemic due to supply chain disruptions Lessons Learned

Abstract

Each crisis provides food for thought concerning project management, and lessons can be drawn for the future regarding risk mitigation. In that milieu, there has been a lot of scientific discussion about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on project implementation. That discussion pointed to numerous factors that led to delays in the execution of projects. Thus, this study aims to identify the main factors that caused project delays during the pandemic. For this purpose, we used factor analysis, more precisely principal component analysis, to determine the main culprits that caused project delays. Factor analysis pointed to two primary causes of project delays during the pandemic, namely Epidemic-Related Disruptions and Supply chain disruptions. These findings indicate two basic groups of factors enabling a much more focused approach to project management should similar crises occur in the future.