Philosophical Rationalisation of a Geotechnical Narrative to Cost Overruns in Highway Projects

Abstract

Different methodological routes to the study of cost overruns are evident in the literature. A critical review reveals several gaps, particularly the lack of methodologically robust explanatory evidence to support the assertions that geotechnical risks significantly impact on cost overruns in highway projects. This study evaluates and select an adequate philosophical/methodological orientation relevant to provide a geotechnical narrative to the phenomena of cost overruns in highway projects. This paper thus sets out the underlying philosophical and logical reasoning that served as a guide on the conduct of a study, carried out to illuminate geotechnical trajectories to cost overruns in highway projects. Critical evaluation of the different philosophical stances evident in the literature was carried out, while factoring in the practicality and compatibility of the methods implicit in the various research strategies. The study adopted the philosophical stance of the critical realist, via the amalgamation of ontological positivism, with epistemological constructivism, in acknowledging the role that values and societal ideology play in the derivation of empirical knowledge on cost overruns. The case study approach was further justified as an appropriate research strategy necessary to provide a geotechnical narrative to cost overruns, in view of its: wholesomeness in investigating the study phenomena; ability to incorporate requisite multiple data sources and research techniques; and compatibility with adopted pragmatist philosophical critical realist viewpoint. The study espouses the need for objectivity, albeit a multi-perspective interpretative understanding of the human factors in organizational practice, that drive the more technical concerns about ground related risks, as a core requirement, necessary to provide a geotechnical narrative to cost overruns in highway projects.