Name a common cause of construction delays for which the owner or architect is at fault.

• A. Unexpectedly bad weather
• B. Change orders caused by the owner or architect
• C. Contractor behind schedule because they are building too slow
• D. Late procurement of materials

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that changes initiated by the owner or architect after construction has begun commonly cause delays. When the scope or design is altered, the team must produce new drawings and specifications, obtain approvals, possibly redo already completed work, and adjust schedules and sequencing of trades. This ripple effect pushes milestones and extends the project timeline, so owner- or architect-caused change orders are a frequent source of delay.

Weather is an external factor beyond anyone’s control, so it’s not a fault of the owner or architect. If the contractor is behind, that reflects contractor performance, not owner/architect responsibility. Late material procurement can stem from various causes, not specifically owner or architect actions.