20 research outputs found
Blueprints for infrastructure and service delivery in sub-Saharan Africa
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Polycentric cultural framework for infrastructure procurement in Nigeria
The high failure rate of most infrastructures in sub-Saharan Africa is alarming, particularly in Nigeria, where the dearth and deterioration of infrastructure constantly imposes severe constraints on economic growth and development. Consequently, existing institutions or strategies which are designed to reproduce effective infrastructures in areas that lack them have been mostly unsuccessful. A carefully conducted survey covering the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria identified inadequate maintenance and inconsistent procurement strategies as the major factors responsible for unsustainable infrastructure delivery. In view of the fact that a stable infrastructure is an essential prerequisite for sustainable development, this paper presents a polycentric cultural framework for infrastructure maintenance and procurement in Nigeria, a framework which emphasises the integration of infrastructure users throughout the process, from conceptualization to actual delivery of infrastructure, by taking the recipients’ culture, beliefs and values into account. It also emphasises the use of systemic referendum amongst users and stakeholders via the traditional consultative processes before the actual delivery of infrastructure and services.N/
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Infrastructure delays and cost escalation: Causes and effects in Nigeria
One of the major outcomes of the present ailing social and economic conditions in sub-Saharan Africa is the enormous waste of resources due to project delay and cost escalation in the region. This paper critically analyses the causes and effects of project delay and cost escalation in sub-Saharan Africa taking Nigeria as a case study. The major causes of project delay and cost escalation in Nigeria from the experimental survey were acknowledged and ranked. The ranking was carried out using the relative net difference between the mean severity index percentage and the standard error of mean percentage in order to achieve unambiguously the ranking for each variable factor. Empirical analysis revealed the consequences of project delays and cost escalation for some completed projects in Nigeria with these subsequent findings: the minimum average percentage escalation cost of projects in Nigeria was 14%; the minimum average percentage escalation period of projects in Nigeria was found to be 188% with an average percentage completion work of just 96%. To enhance the ability to study this disturbing trend in the future, some mathematical relationships to forecast future project delays and cost escalation effects in Nigeria was developed. It was recommended that efficient manpower and material systems, alternative financial strategies and increased contingency allowance pattern in pre-contract estimates be developed.N/
The private versus public infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa: An empirical validation
The macroeconomics of the relationship between the private and public infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa has been very unpredictable due to the region’s ineffective planning and policy formulation for infrastructure and service delivery. This paper examines the relationship between public and private infrastructure in subSaharan Africa. It also demonstrates that sub-Saharan Africa consumes more and invests less when compared to the industrialised world and that the present domestic investments in sub-Saharan Africa are actually more in the hands of the private sector. Lastly, an inference relationship for measuring and comparing economic stability between countries and regions was formulated, with the industrialised countries as a reference value.N/
Housing infrastructure: contemporary issues in timber adoption
Scotland currently has 76·7% of all implemented timber-framed buildings in the UK housing market. England's figure is 16%. The English contribution is considered relatively low given its demand for more sustainable, low-cost social housing. The aim of this study is to investigate potential contemporary barriers to the adoption of timber as a primary structural material in residential housing developments in England. The research methodology is quantitative and findings revealed that a combination of economic, cultural and psychological issues rather than technical and durability performance are responsible. These are fundamentally due to lack of education regarding the use of timber, erroneously perceived increased maintenance costs of timber housing, developers' influence and monopoly over timber technology, uncertainty in property resale value and the recent overall lack of confidence in timber technology. It is recommended that improved training comprising compulsory basic timber technology and sustainable construction is adopted as a formal prerequisite for the attainment of relevant qualifications within the built environment, civil engineering and architecture. To this end, the benefits of sustainable construction, specifically, timber, in housing should be introduced even at the pre-university level, within schools and colleges. Also recommended are public awareness campaigns through relevant institutions, in the public and private sectors and among construction professionals, of the merits and misconceptions surrounding timber technology
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Infrastructure delays and cost escalations: causes and effects in Nigeria
One of the major outcomes of the present ailing social and economic conditions in sub-Saharan Africa is the enormous waste of resources due to project delay and cost escalation in the region. This paper critically analyses the causes and effects of project delay and cost escalation in sub-Saharan Africa taking Nigeria as a case study. The major causes of project delay and cost escalation in Nigeria from experimental survey were acknowledged and ranked. The ranking was carried out using the relative net difference between the mean severity index percentage and the standard error of mean percentage in order to achieve unambiguously the ranking for each variable factor. Empirical analysis revealed the consequences of project delays and cost escalation for some completed projects in Nigeria with these subsequent findings: the minimum average percentage escalation cost of projects in Nigeria was 14%; the minimum average percentage escalation period of projects in Nigeria was found to be 188% with an average percentage completion work of just 96%. To enhance the ability to study this disturbing trend in the future, some mathematical relationships to forecast future project delays and cost escalation effects in Nigeria was developed. It was recommended that efficient man power and material systems, alternative financial strategies and increased contingency allowance pattern in pre-contract estimates be developed
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The influence of fine aggregate combinations on particle size distribution, grading parameters and compressive strength of sandcrete blocks
The current extensive use of low priced fine aggregate (sand) deposits in sandcrete block making in Nigeria is of concern because there appears to be a level of ignorance surrounding their existing properties and implications. To this end, silt contents and some grading parameters of the most commonly used fine aggregate deposits in parts of midwestern Nigeria (Benin City), the coefficient of uniformity (Cu), curvature coefficient (Cc), and the fineness modulus (Fm) were derived by laboratory experiments to ascertain these basic properties. In addition, the strength and durability properties of sandcrete blocks made from these sands were also established. It revealed that the low priced sands exhibited worse properties in comparison to the more expensive sand. As a way of improving the properties of these frequently used low priced sands, a combination approach was adopted that used the weaker and commonly used sands with those that are more expensive and less frequently used. Findings revealed that combining the two created significant improvement in compressive strength, durability, and grading parameters of low priced sands with only marginal impact on cost.Key words: fine aggregates, uniformity coefficient, curvature coefficient, fineness modulus, compressive strength, durability, silt contents, Nigeria
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Labour productivity in the U.A.E. construction and housing sector
No abstract available
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Modelling in ranking procedures: A case study of infrastructure failures in Nigeria
The lack of a scientific approach as to which factors are considered or chosen in a decision-making process can seriously influence the effectiveness of that process. Using the example of infrastructure failures in Nigeria, this paper presents a severity index in matrix order (SIMO) model that unambiguously ranks factors and also defines a threshold that demarcates between major variable factors that should not be compromised in policy and less important ones. Infrastructures failures in Nigeria have hindered economic processes which were meant to alleviate poverty. Constraints responsible for this situation are identified from a carefully conducted survey in Nigeria. Severity of these constraints is empirically ranked using a developed severity index in matrix order (SIMO) model. However, the investigation reveals that corruption, misallocation of investments, inadequate maintenance, lack of transparency and accountability, insufficient funding for infrastructure, lack of supportive institutions, inconsistent political, social and economic policies and the lack of suitable technical and managerial skill are the major variable factors responsible for infrastructure failures in Nigeria.N/
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Project leadership functions and the associated behaviour for projects and project organizations
Individuals and their leadership competencies have been the sole focus of project leadership research, rather than the project leadership's behaviour and functions in project and organizational settings. As a result, this study investigates the project leadership functions and behaviours required for various project and organizational situations in order to propose a project leadership model that will be effective in all project and organizational situations. The model that was developed and tested in this study theorized on the project leadership function that project leaders are expected to perform as a result of their positions. It also described how project leaders could tailor their leadership functions and behaviours to address issues related to positions, organizational situations, and project situations. Three hypotheses were developed and tested using structural equation modelling to validate the model. The model's perceptive power demonstrates adequate validity. The model's validity implies that there are appropriate project leadership functions for different leadership levels and circumstances. The model's validity also implies that each project leadership behaviour has its own value, as conditions and necessities dictate. The study assumes that a project leader can embrace project leadership by combining a few different project leadership functions and behaviours