Speaking to your question on construction companies ability to complete projects on schedule -- Inefficient structure, more specifically human resource inadequacies, may be the most apt description of what causes missed schedule and financial targets.

It's important to understand that the construction industry is a well trained, but poorly educated workforce. That translates to a lack of comprehensive planning and foresight. The better companies have solved this problem by identifying individuals with the right mix of "global thinking" and field experience and charged them with managing projects.

Lesser companies still win work (especially during economic boom times) and, as there are so many, serve as a constant reminder of how straightforward projects can go awry.