On complex projects, time is money. When feedback is missed or delayed, the cost of resolving issues grows by the week. What starts as a small fix quickly turns into rework, delays, and strained budgets.

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The feedback timeline

Every issue has a window of influence. Early on, problems are easier and cheaper to resolve. As time passes:

• The workforce’s ability to influence drops.
• The cost of resolving issues rises exponentially.
• Trust in management erodes when people don’t see action.
  
  

The graph is simple: one line falls, the other climbs. By the time they cross, the issue is no longer just operational… it’s financial.

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The economics of delay

A minor sequencing error spotted today might take an hour to fix. Leave it unresolved for a month, and it could require days of rework involving multiple trades.

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Industry research shows:

• Of 258 projects studied across the world, 90% of construction projects are experiencing cost increases and delays 
• 98% of mega projects experience delays or budget overruns of 30%
• Well-recognized employees are 65% less likely to be actively looking or watching for another job opportunity

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Percentage Project Costs of Not Detecting & Resolving Issues Early  

• Rework (unresolved problems): 5–11% (up to 30% in extreme cases)
• Delays (extended timelines): 10–15% (can exceed 20%)
• Safety risks: 1–3% direct, up to 6–8% including indirect costs
• Poor communication / client disputes: 5–7%
• Small oversights (design & documentation errors): 9–12%

Source: USA - Construction Management Association of America, CMAA, USA - Construction Industry Institute CII, Global Construction Safety Council, industry insurers, UK - Construction Quality Improvement Collaborative CQIC

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The ripple effect

The problem isn’t just the cost of fixing an issue. It’s the knock-on effects:

• Safety risks increase when problems linger.
• Morale drops when workers feel ignored.
• Communication breaks down as people stop reporting issues.
  
  

One missed signal becomes a cascade of delays, disengagement, and higher costs.

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Breaking the cycle

The way forward is simple:

• Act on signals early: quick fixes are always cheaper.
• Prioritize feedback: treat it as a leading indicator, not background noise.
• Close the loop: let workers see their input made a difference.
  
  

Onsite, silence is never neutral. The longer issues sit, the more expensive they become. Catch them early, and you turn compounding costs into compounding savings.

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