The Role of the Owner’s Supervisory Engineer and Its Impact on Construction Project Execution Time

Abstract

Construction projects often experience delays due to managerial, financial, and coordination challenges among project stakeholders. This study aims to investigate the role of the owner’s supervisory engineer and its impact on construction project execution time in Tripoli, Libya. A descriptive–analytical approach was adopted using a structured questionnaire distributed to engineers involved in supervising medium and large construction projects. A total of 90 questionnaires were distributed, of which 83 valid responses were analyzed using SPSS. The results indicate that effective supervision plays a significant role in improving project execution performance. Timely payment of contractors’ financial entitlements was identified as the most influential factor with a relative importance of 93.2%, followed by communication and coordination skills (92%) and familiarity with contractual provisions (90.6%). The findings highlight the importance of strengthening the supervisory role to improve project performance and reduce delays in construction projects. The study recommends enhancing supervisory engineers’ managerial skills, improving financial procedures, and strengthening project documentation systems.