Dimensions of Organisational Culture in Quantity Surveying Firms in Nigeria

The functionalist paradigm of organisational culture (OC) views culture as a variable subject to conscious manipulation and control in order to solve organisational challenges. Therefore, this paper provides information on how OC is a solution to the challenges in Quantity Surveying firms (QSFs).  This was achieved by eliciting the dimensions of OC in forty two QSFs in Lagos, Nigeria, which are the business, people and external environment dimensions. The paper concludes that OC is a relevant solution to the identity and management related challenges in QSFs. Specifically, the paper informs on the implications of business and people dimensions of OC as a solution to the identity challenges, as well as on the implication of the external environment dimension of OC to the management challenges. Based on the findings, practical implications and recommendations were directed at the management and employees QSs in QSFs and Quantity Surveying researchers

Analysis of Projects undertaken by Quantity Surveyors in Lagos State, Nigeria

1209 Analysis of Projects undertaken by Quantity Surveyors in Lagos State, Nigeria Increasing cost of construction works coupled with insistent collapse of buildings stimulated the investigation of the skills required of the Quantity Surveyors cum their competencies. Due diligence study on the nature of construction projects undertaken were carried out and fifty-eight (58) senior/ associate partners, working in quantity surveying (Qs) firms completed the questionnaires out of Seventy four (74) quantity surveying consultancy firms. Percentile and mean were used for the analysis of data. The study revealed that majority of quantity surveying firms, despite their long years of existence with highly experienced staff members; limit their area of operations to building works, be it low or high rise, thereby leaving out substantial part of their work in both civil and industrial engineering works to be undertaking by others. The study concludes that the management of quantity surveying firms should also delve into civil and industrial engineering works more than before in order to ensure cost effectiveness of these projects

Analysis of Projects undertaken by Quantity Surveyors in Lagos State, Nigeria

1209 Analysis of Projects undertaken by Quantity Surveyors in Lagos State, Nigeria Increasing cost of construction works coupled with insistent collapse of buildings stimulated the investigation of the skills required of the Quantity Surveyors cum their competencies. Due diligence study on the nature of construction projects undertaken were carried out and fifty-eight (58) senior/ associate partners, working in quantity surveying (Qs) firms completed the questionnaires out of Seventy four (74) quantity surveying consultancy firms. Percentile and mean were used for the analysis of data. The study revealed that majority of quantity surveying firms, despite their long years of existence with highly experienced staff members; limit their area of operations to building works, be it low or high rise, thereby leaving out substantial part of their work in both civil and industrial engineering works to be undertaking by others. The study concludes that the management of quantity surveying firms should also delve into civil and industrial engineering works more than before in order to ensure cost effectiveness of these projects

Diversity Among Construction Professionals: A Study of Their Perception of Construction Site Management Practices

Introduction: This paper tests a proposition that there is no significant difference in construction professionals’ perception of construction site management practices in the construction industry. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide support, or otherwise to the diversity attribute of the construction industry. The construction industry is largely regarded as diverse; however, the industry also manifests signs of alignment especially on issues that tie construction professionals to project goals. One of such issues is construction site management, which when effective, leads to project success. Design: This paper adopts a survey research design where well-structured questionnaires were used in obtaining the perception of construction professionals (architects, civil engineers, builders and quantity surveyors) on their prioritisation of construction site management practices. The data obtained was subjected to empirical analysis that informed the findings. Findings: The research proposition is rejected. Significant difference exists in the construction professionals’ perception of construction site management practices in the construction industry. Value: The findings of this paper is valuable to tinkering the need for professionals’ interests and goal alignment in the construction industry Research Limitation/Implication: Interview case study could be deployed to complement the survey research design used. The singular survey design used is not however expected to undermine the findings owing to the comprehensiveness of the questionnaire designed and the scientific basis (objective-oriented) upon which the respondents were selected. Practical Implication: The paper informs on the non-unified interests that exist among professional service providers in the construction industry

Rethinking Partnering among Quantity-Surveying Firms in Nigeria

This paper explores the benefits and barriers to partnering in quantity-surveying (QS) firms in Nigeria, and suggests projects and professional services best served by this practice. A mixed research design informs the identification of related concepts from extant literature and data collection from 132 registered members of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) which were analyzed using statistical tools. The commitment of top management is found to be a key barrier to QS firm partnering. The facilitation of knowledge exchange and inclusivity is the most significant benefit. In this paper, feasibility studies, expert advice, and lifecycle costing are key services of QS firms that would benefit from partnering, and research findings also favor engineering projects as core projects in which QS firms should utilize partnering. This study presents project stakeholders with practical and efficient strategies to facilitate the implementation of partnering arrangements to execute construction projects and has considerable implications for the quantity-surveying practice because it recommends professional services and projects with greater viability for the partnering arrangement

Factors Influencing Success Rate of Contractors in Competitive Bidding for Construction Works in South-East, Nigeria

The focal point of this study was to assess the perspectives of construction professionals on factors influencing tender prices of construction works and the contribution of the factors to the success rate of contractors. Using literature review and questionnaire survey, 15 factors were identified in respect to contractors' tender price and success rate in Nigeria. The findings of this study based on the results of statistical analyses (mean score and chi-square) reveal that all the construction professionals (architects, builders, engineers and quantity surveyors) are of the opinion that material availability, labour productivity and level of profit are the most significant factors that highly influence tender price of construction works and consequently affect the success rate of contractors in competitive bidding. Project definition and construction plan have least influence on contractors' tender price. Also, it was found that government policy does not have significant effect on contractors' success rate in competitive bidding in Nigeria. It is hoped that the information presented in this paper will be of interest to all parties concerned, including Nigerian construction companies and foreign companies planning to enter the Nigerian construction market. In addition, while the research focused on a particular country, Nigeria, the study can be replicated in other countries particularly developing countries and the results can be compared

Bid or no-bid decision factors of indigenous contractors in Nigeria

Purpose: The decision to bid or not to bid for new projects determines contractors' propensity for business success or failure. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that affect the decision of indigenous construction contractors to bid or not to bid in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: Analysis was conducted on data from questionnaires received from 64 engineering management employees of leading construction companies which are members of Nigeria' s Federation of Construction Industry. The study identified 41 significant decision factors often considered by Nigerian indigenous contractors before the bid. Mean item scores were obtained for each of the factors. Principal component analysis was used to point out the most significant decision factors. Findings: Results revealed significant orthogonal relationships between the factors. Only 11 of the 41 factors are statistically significant to influence contractors' decision to bid or not to bid. Most of the significant items were amongst the least rated items by the participants. The post hoc decision factors include consultant' s interpretation of project specifications, previous relationship between the intending bidder and client, availability of other projects at the time of bidding, technological complexity of the project under consideration and prequalification requirements. Others include the propensity for resource price fluctuation, business capacity of partners, amount of own work vs subcontracted work, required rate of return on investment and difficulty in obtaining finance. Originality/value: The practical implication of these findings are as follows: the orthogonal relationship between the decision factors implies non-linear relationship between the factors and actual decision to bid or not to bid, and that bid success is often not predictable by bid behaviour; many of the bid decision factors rated highest by indigenous contractors seldom impact the contractors' actual bid decisions; local and international players can adopt the significant decision factors elicited in this study for managing their structures for inter-organizational partnerships

Rethinking Partnering among Quantity-Surveying Firms in Nigeria

This paper explores the benefits and barriers to partnering in quantity-surveying (QS) firms in Nigeria, and suggests projects and professional services best served by this practice. A mixed research design informs the identification of related concepts from extant literature and data collection from 132 registered members of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) which were analyzed using statistical tools. The commitment of top management is found to be a key barrier to QS firm partnering. The facilitation of knowledge exchange and inclusivity is the most significant benefit. In this paper, feasibility studies, expert advice, and lifecycle costing are key services of QS firms that would benefit from partnering, and research findings also favor engineering projects as core projects in which QS firms should utilize partnering. This study presents project stakeholders with practical and efficient strategies to facilitate the implementation of partnering arrangements to execute construction projects and has considerable implications for the quantity-surveying practice because it recommends professional services and projects with greater viability for the partnering arrangement

Investigation into the severity of factors predisposing construction projects to risks in Nigeria

Factors predisposing construction projects to risks have received extensive attention in the literature at the detriment of the level of severity. This study aims at assessing the severity of these factors in Rivers State, Nigeria, with recourse to the perceptions of construction stakeholders. In achieving the aim; primary data were collected through questionnaires survey administered on284respondentsout of which 158 received formed the basis of analysis. The respondents were directly involved in the completed projects. Cronbach alpha test with a value of 0.902 attested to the high degree reliability of instrument used in collecting the data. Kruskal Wallis H test confirmed the convergent views of the respondents. The highly rated factors found predisposing construction projects to risks included excessive approval procedures in administrative government department/bureaucracy, inadequate contractors experience, contractor’s poor site management and supervision, inadequate programme scheduling and incomplete or inaccurate cost estimate among others. Having ascertained the significant severe factors predisposing construction projects to risk, administrative bottlenecks in securing approvals should be reduced coupled with allowance for adequate time to cater for approval formalities in government department. Also, experience of the contractor should also be given utmost priority as part of the criteria for selection to be fulfilled because it will not only enhance the project but also guide against poor site management and supervision. Lastly, there should be flexibility in the program schedule without affecting the overall project program while adequate attention should be accorded the cost estimates to ensure correctness

Bid or no-bid decision factors of indigenous contractors in Nigeria

© 2017 Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: The decision to bid or not to bid for new projects determines contractors' propensity for business success or failure. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that affect the decision of indigenous construction contractors to bid or not to bid in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: Analysis was conducted on data from questionnaires received from 64 engineering management employees of leading construction companies which are members of Nigeria' s Federation of Construction Industry. The study identified 41 significant decision factors often considered by Nigerian indigenous contractors before the bid. Mean item scores were obtained for each of the factors. Principal component analysis was used to point out the most significant decision factors. Findings: Results revealed significant orthogonal relationships between the factors. Only 11 of the 41 factors are statistically significant to influence contractors' decision to bid or not to bid. Most of the significant items were amongst the least rated items by the participants. The post hoc decision factors include consultant' s interpretation of project specifications, previous relationship between the intending bidder and client, availability of other projects at the time of bidding, technological complexity of the project under consideration and prequalification requirements. Others include the propensity for resource price fluctuation, business capacity of partners, amount of own work vs subcontracted work, required rate of return on investment and difficulty in obtaining finance. Originality/value: The practical implication of these findings are as follows: the orthogonal relationship between the decision factors implies non-linear relationship between the factors and actual decision to bid or not to bid, and that bid success is often not predictable by bid behaviour; many of the bid decision factors rated highest by indigenous contractors seldom impact the contractors' actual bid decisions; local and international players can adopt the significant decision factors elicited in this study for managing their structures for inter-organizational partnerships