Comparing the Profile of South African Quantity Surveyors with Construction Quantity Surveyors

Abstract

Organisations and professions need adaption skills to survive and prosper in a world of change. As a new democracy, South Africa is experiencing significant change. Organisations such as the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) must also adapt. The ASAQS is a voluntary association formed to serve the professional needs of Quantity surveyors (QS’s). QS’s offer financial consultancy services to the construction industry. The ASAQS has been considering adding a new membership category for construction quantity surveyors (CQS) since a recent study has shown that more than 17% of QS’s are employed by contractors and do not work as professional consultants. South African CQS’s do not have a professional organisation to serve their interests. A new CQS membership category will address that need, strengthen the ASAQS membership base and expand the ASAQS’s influence in the construction industry. To secure updated information about the profile of QS’s, a questionnaire from the ASAQS, assisted by the University of Pretoria (UP), was recently circulated to all QS’s nationally. In a previous study, the data was used to compile a profile of CQSs to assist the ASAQS’s consideration of a CQS membership category. The profile of CQS’s confirmed them to be relatively young (almost 55% are not older than 35 years), 83% are located in provinces with major urban economic hubs, 63% are African, but less than 10% are from Coloured, Indian or other racial groups. All CQS’s have tertiary qualifications, only 25% of CQS’s are not registered with the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP), but 34% are not ASAQS members. To further assist the ASAQS in considering this new membership category, this study will compare the profile of CQS’s to the profile of consulting QS’s. The findings of this study will assist the ASAQS to more clearly understand the specific nature and traits of CQS’s. Recent and detailed information proposed by this study will help guide the ASAQS’s decision on CQS membership.