Consultant Quantity Surveyors Research Articles

Leveraging BIM technology for improved accuracy in detailed cost estimation in Sri Lanka

Detailed cost estimation is the process of predicting the cost of the project at workface level. However, traditional methods of detailed cost estimation encounter various challenges in achieving precise cost estimation. To address these challenges, modern techniques have emerged in the field of cost estimation. Building Information Modelling (BIM) has emerged as an efficient solution for addressing challenges in construction projects. This study investigates the adaptability of BIM for detailed cost estimation. The research adopted qualitative approach. Data were collected using two rounds of Delphi interviews with 14 experts in detailed cost estimation and BIM. Code-based content analysis was used to analyse the data. The study provides empirical evidence showcasing the potential of BIM effectively addressing the challenges encountered in detailed cost estimation. By focusing on the perspective of consultant quantity surveyors in Sri Lanka, findings underscore the significant role of BIM in enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of detailed cost estimation processes for improved project outcomes. The findings highlight further research opportunities and contribute to the understanding of BIM's impact on cost estimation. The findings can use to enhance the practical implementation of BIM by intervening to form more partnerships among application developers and industry leaders.

Factors Affecting the Competence of Quantity Surveying Professionals in Zimbabwe

The increased complexity of construction projects necessitates the need for quantity surveying professionals to achieve and maintain the highest levels of competency. However, various factors have inhibited their expected professional practice aptitude. Hence, this study reported on the factors affecting the competency of surveying professionals. A questionnaire-based descriptive survey strategy was undertaken to collect quantitative data from both consultant quantity surveyors and contractor quantity surveyors on the factors that influence their competence. The factor analysis revealed four significant components, including inadequate project and professional practice, inadequate academic and technological advances, inadequate organisational structure and teamwork and unclear individual career development goals. In addition, an assessment of the statistically significant differences based on the ranking by consultant and contractor quantity surveyors was undertaken. Contractor quantity surveyors consider inadequate polytechnic education and training, inconsistent project implementation strategies and unclear organisation development goals as impacting most negatively on the competence of quantity surveying professionals. This finding reveals a need to establish collaboration between higher education institutions and professional bodies for the development and implementation of relevant strategic plans to resolve these inadequacies. Also, organisational development goals and project implementation strategies are relevant and important for contractors as opposed to firm consultants. The withdrawal of primary data from quantity surveying professionals was the only limitation; however, the factors primarily affecting quantity surveyors and their insights are vital.

Exploring the ethical decision-making practice among Malaysian consultant quantity surveyors: a qualitative study

The Malaysian Government has worked tirelessly to develop a comprehensive set of tactics aimed at fighting corruption. One of the sectors that have problems with corruption is the construction industry especially among consultant quantity surveyors (CQS) due to the nature of their work. Many unethical behaviours are being practiced in the construction industry. The goal of this research is to explore the ethical decision-making practice among CQS in Malaysia. Researchers described the results of a qualitative research study involving CQS. Purposive sampling was used to choose interviews. The eight selected respondents were from three main quantity surveyors' institutions. This study employed semi-structured interviews for data gathering. Following the data analysis, seven key themes emerged: 'upbringing', 'skill and training', 'experience and intuitions', 'social interaction', 'adherence to the duty of care', 'company policy' and 'compliance with the ethics code'. Identifying these elements behind ethical decision-making will help the consultant's quantity surveyors to perform their duty well.

Exploring the ethical decision-making practice among Malaysian consultant quantity surveyors: a qualitative study

Exploring the ethical decision-making practice among Malaysian consultant quantity surveyors: a qualitative study

The Ethical Decision-Making Practices among Malaysian Consultant Quantity Surveyor

Ethical decision-making refers to the process of evaluating and choosing among alternatives in a manner consistent with ethical principles. Ethical decision-making (EDM) expertise is required for consultant quantity surveyors (CQSs) to perform their duties effectively and to protect the client's interests in the construction project. Therefore, as professionals in the construction industry, the CQSs must develop strategies to prevent corrupt practices when dealing with EDM. Thus, this study aimed to investigate ethical decision-making among Malaysian consultant quantity surveyors. Therefore, a qualitative research methodology was selected to gain more detailed and valid descriptions of the EDM phenomenon, through in-depth interviews. Results showed that several issues and parties are responsible for unethical experiences. Findings indicate that CQSs learn through experiential learning and become experts with EDM in professional practice when they intuitively make ethical decisions.

Clients’ Participation in the Marketing of Quantity Surveyors’ Professional Activities

The quantity surveyors’ roles in executing infrastructure development has expanded from cost management to other professional activities which include managing project risks, project planning, facilities, economic, commercial, and legal framework. Despite the expansion, quantity surveyors’ services are not fully utilised in these areas. Most clients are concerned with achieving their project expectations using professional services mainly other sister professions. Marketing is an effective tool to link clients or customers to understand and accept the value of quantity surveyors’ professional services. Previous studies have investigated the marketing strategies as it relates to practising quantity surveyors but failed to consider the importance of clients’ participation in selecting effective marketing strategies. The paper assesses the influence of clients’ participation in the selection of marketing strategies for quantity surveying profession services. Using quantitative questionnaire survey, data from potential clients and consultant quantity surveyors in Rivers State were analysed with the help of inferential and descriptive statistics which include Kruskal-Wallis test, as well as, Pearson correlation. The research findings reveal marketing research, marketing planning, and marketing intelligence as the most influential marketing strategies. The study further reveals that assurance, reliability, and responsiveness as the most significant dimensions of quality service in selecting a service provider. The paper recommends that practising quantity surveyors should adopt the three significant dimensions of quality service for effective marketing of their services to potential clients.

An investigation into BIM-based detailed cost estimating and drivers to the adoption of BIM in quantity surveying practices

Purpose Although studies have shown the relevance of building information modeling (BIM) in cost estimating process, efforts at investigating BIM based detailed cost estimating among professional quantity surveyors through quantitative approach are scanty. The purpose of this study is to identify and examine the usage of BIM-based detailed cost estimating software and assesses the drivers to BIM adoption within the Nigerian quantity surveying consulting firms. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive literature review, pilot study and questionnaire survey were adopted. The survey targeted both the BIM users and non- BIM users’ quantity surveying consulting firms in Lagos, Nigeria. The data collected were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean score, standard deviation, Mann–Whitney test and factor analysis. Findings The study found that 46.58 per cent of quantity surveying consulting firms are aware of BIM and have adopted it for detailed cost estimating, while 49.32 per cent of quantity surveying consulting firms are aware but have not adopted BIM-based detailed cost estimating, and 4.10 per cent of quantity surveying consulting firms are not aware at all. Also, the study identified various BIM-based detailed cost estimating software used in quantity surveying practices and found that Microsoft Excel is often used alongside 3D software, Autodesk QTO, Navisworks, Innovaya Composer and CostX are prevalent BIM software used for detailed cost estimating. In addition, the study identified 21 drivers to the adoption of BIM in quantity surveying practices. The result of factor analysis grouped the 21 identified drivers into five principal factors: improved whole lifecycle/design quality, enhanced decision and visualization, cost and time saving, marketing and support for quantity surveyor tasks and government and client pressure. Practical implications This study provides significant insight into the application of BIM to quantity surveying consulting practices, thereby enabling consultant quantity surveyors to make informed decisions to select BIM cost estimating software to suit their practices. Further, the study findings can be useful for individuals’, clients’ and contractors’ quantity surveyors to be fully aware of the opportunities BIM could bring in relation to their service delivery. Originality/value Accurate cost estimating, effective cost monitoring and control are essential elements to a construction project success. This study further emphasized the importance of BIM to quantity surveying practices, particularly in the area of the detailed cost estimating.

How fair is construction business in Australia? Perception of Consultant Quantity Surveyors

Creating and managing a fair work environment is a crucial undertaking for management to increasing talent retention and improving organisational efficiency. Hitherto, little or no empirical study has done to investigate how construction employees perceive fairness at work and if their perceived fairness is positively associated with their emotion and pro-social behaviours. In addressing this gap, an online questionnaire survey was undertaken across 50 consultant quantity surveyors in the Australian construction industry to examine their perception of fairness at work and if their perceived fairness would associate with their emotion and behaviours. Overall, the findings suggest that there is a higher level of interpersonal fairness than distributive, procedural and information fairness in the Australian construction workplace. Furthermore, it is found that employees’ perceived interpersonal, informational and procedural fairness have strong positive correlations with their level of confidence, satisfaction, trust, harmony, enthusiasm and stress within the company, and that, in presence of a trusting, harmonious and active working relationship employees are very likely to adopt righteous, sportsmanship and courteous behaviours. In summary, the findings inform company management the types of perceived fairness that are associated with employees’ emotion and behaviours, and thus enable them to develop more targeted human resource management strategies to improve their organisational performance.

An Evaluation of Risk Factors and their Impact on Road Project

Construction projects are generally known to be susceptible to risks. This results in an inability to meet performance targets. This paper assessed the risk factors encountered in the delivery of road projects in Osun State, Nigeria. A questionnaire survey was used to obtain data from all the 146 construction professionals involved in the construction of the 34 road projects executed in the study area. The professionals comprised of 34 Consultant Civil Engineers, 34 Consultants’ Civil Engineers, 34 Consultant Quantity Surveyors, 34 Consultants’ Quantity Surveyors, one project financier and 9 Project Managers, making a total of 146 respondents. Using two-dimensional scaling, the respondents were asked to provide opinions on risk occurrence and their impacts on road projects. The data collected were analysed using mean ranking analysis and student t-test. A further analysis was carried out using factor analysis to reduce the factors impacting road projects into fewer factor components. The results revealed that the risk factors with high extent of occurrence are in the order of change in scope of work, defective design, error and re-work, change in design, delay in availability of design details and unforeseen adverse conditions. Surprisingly, the top ranking risk factors are not the ones with high impact based on the result of the analysis. Using factor analysis, 9 component factors regarding the extent of risk occurrence were obtained and they accounted for 73.73% of the variance explained while 4- component factors were obtained regarding the impact of risk occurrence and they accounted for 46.16% of the variance explained. The study concluded that professionals involved in the delivery of road projects need to be aware of the significant risk factors impacting road projects and put proactive risk management approach in place to deal with them to avoid surprises.Keywords: Performance, Projects, Risk factors, Risk impact, Road.

Release of Construction Clients’ Pre-tender Cost Estimates: An Experimental Study

Clients engage consultant quantity surveyors or cost engineers to perform project cost estimates before calling for tender submissions. This experimental study examines the impact of releasing the clients’ pre-tender cost estimates prior to bidding on student subjects’ bidding behavioural patterns, and the extents to which their bidding tends to agree with the behavioural patterns proposed by Milgrom and Weber’s theory. The results show that the provision of clients’ pre-tender cost estimates prior to bidding does affect bidders’ bidding behaviour. Bidders with access to the clients’ pre-tender cost estimates prior to bidding, on average, recorded lower bids than those with no access to the estimate. However, the lower average bids do not result in statistically significant lower winning bids. These findings provide evidence in support of Milgrom and Weber’s theory, demonstrating the practicality of an experimental approach using student subjects for testing theories in building economics research. The practical implication is that construction clients would need to consider their information policy on releasing pre-tender cost estimates to enhance efficiency in their procurement for construction services.

Managing construction stakeholders for effective project delivery : a case of consultant quantity surveyors

Meeting stakeholders' needs and satisfaction is a primary project success factor in addition to cost, time and quality. Though studies have suggested stakeholders' dissatisfaction with project success, however, there is lack of studies on quantity surveyors' role and management in developing countries in achieving project success. This paper explored and evaluated quantity surveyor's consultant's management approach as part of a broader study aimed at 'Developing sustainable stakeholder management framework for construction projects in Ghana'. Firstly, literature on construction stakeholder management from journals and published dissertations were reviewed. Whilst, GETFund tertiary education projects in Ghana were used as case study for the research. Data was analysed using the stakeholder circle, salience and matrix approaches suggested by scholars and used in similar researches to identify and evaluate key stakeholders role and management. The study confirmed the identification and role of Quantity Surveyors as key stakeholders,though not managed as such by project managers. Project failures was also establish the an effect of stakeholder management absence and recommends the education, consideration of stakeholder management by project managers, keeping Quantity Surveyors well informed, monitored and actively involved in the project planning.

Why do the design stage elemental cost plan and final tender sum differ in New Zealand?

Purpose– The aim of this study is to investigate the reasons for disparity between design stage elemental cost plan and final tender sum (contract sum) in building procurement. A number of risk factors responsible for such variation were identified through case study projects from which data were extracted.Design/methodology/approach– Literature review determined the risk factors inherent in the preparation of design stage elemental cost plan. Interviews and thematic analysis identified the risk factors responsible for the disparity between design stage elemental cost plans and final tender sums. Analysis of documents obtained from the archives of study participants (consultant quantity surveyors) complemented responses from the interviews.Findings– The review revealed a number of inherent risks in the design stage elemental cost plan development. The interviews further indicated that risks have an impact on and are responsible for the deviations experienced. The assessment of these risk elements could assist in determining the final tender sum from cost plans.Research limitations/implications– Findings revealed disparity between elemental cost plans and final tender sums in the region of −14 and +16 per cent. The risk factors identified were responsible for the deviations observed. With this information, Quantity Surveyors are more able to accurately forecast final tender sums of building projects from cost plans through proper risk identification and analysis, thus increasing the accuracy of design stage elemental costing.Originality/value– To the best of the knowledge of the researchers, there is no recent documentary evidence of an investigation into the reasons for disparity between design stage elemental cost plan and final tender sum in traditional building procurement in New Zealand construction.

Design-Build: How to Increase Its Usage and Its Impact on Architects and Contractors in Singapore

The purpose of this paper is to explore the ways to increase the usage of design-build (DB). The scope covers how project managers (local and foreign) can play a role in increasing DB usage in Singapore. It is found that owners would adopt DB if their requirements can be properly met. This is achieved by having clear and comprehensive bid documents, having sketch designs prepared by client appointed consultants, and engaging experienced DB contractors. Clients also need to engage project managers and consultant quantity surveyors to manage the DB projects, but the liability for design rests on DB contractors. Clients want DB contractors to provide warranty for fitness for purpose. The conclusion is that clients welcome the use of DB if some concrete steps are taken to make it meet their needs better. This study also concludes that consulting and contracting companies welcome DB, as this procurement method does not have a significantly negative impact on them.

The impact of contractors' prequalification on construction project delivery in Nigeria

PurposePrequalification of contractors is a very important step in construction project procurement under the contract “Due Process” policy in Nigeria. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to investigate the impact of contractors' prequalification on cost, time and quality performance of construction projects.Design/methodology/approachData were collected with the aid of a questionnaire addressed to construction practitioners selected from clients, consultants and contractors' organizations. Also archival data on 77 completed building projects relating to prequalification assessment of contractors and project delivery variables were sourced from consultant quantity surveyors. The data were analysed with the aid of mean score and one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA).FindingsThe results show that contractors' prequalification has significant impact on time and quality performance of construction projects as evidenced by p‐values of 0.039 and 0.030, respectively.Practical implicationsThe findings should provide a valuable reference for clients and consultants during contractors' prequalification and contract award.Originality/valueThe outcome of this paper will assist clients and consultants in the construction industry to carry out objective assessment of contractors' potential performance in relation to project goals prior to contract award.

Leadership style and power relations in quantity surveying in Hong Kong

The realization of construction projects brings together a diversity of individuals and organizations, variously forged into groups and teams, in which power is important in shaping leader/follower behaviour. Quantity surveyors, being primarily project cost consultants and procurement/contractual advisers, are employed both by the clients' and the contractors' organizations. This paper investigates aspects of leadership style and power within quantity surveying in both clients' and contractors' project ‘teams’. The empirical work employed two questionnaires, developed from established instruments and completed by samples of team leaders and team members. Some differences emerged between quantity surveyors working for consultants' organizations (acting on behalf of the client) and those working for contractors' organizations. The results confirm the relationship orientation of clients' consultant quantity surveyors, who tend to adopt the supportive style of leadership. The directive style of leadership showed negative impact. Power distance was found to exceed that measured previously for Hong Kong and expert power was the most important power source.

A study of the contractor's quantity surveying practice during the construction process

Quantity surveyors in construction companies apply traditional quantity surveying practices to meet the requirements of consultant quantity surveyors acting for the client. Other practices have to be used to suit the internal cost accounting and reporting requirements of the company. The practices of construction company quantity surveyors must therefore satisfy both external and internal needs and, in order to support corporate feedback, must be standardized across the company's projects. This paper describes an investigation of the quantity surveyor's role in a construction company. It was carried out as part of the company's quality improvement process. The investigation identified the need for a number of changes to satisfy the aims of the quantity surveying practice. The paper describes these and the result of their implementation. Further improvements in cost control during the construction phase of a project can be made, thus, enabling the quantity surveyor to provide better support for the site pr...

Design Cost Modelling - The Way Forward

Design cost modelling is a fundamental cost management support tool used by construction economists/quantity surveyers. The accuracy of design cost modelling is vital to the success of building developments and the viability of clients, consultants and contractors. This paper reports upon design cost modelling research currentlu being undertaken at the department of Building and Construction Economics at RMIT. The paper positions the research by presenting an overview of design cost modelling techniques, their accuracy, deficiencies and usage. Conclusions are drawn that traditional methods of building procurement stifle attempts to advance the accuracy of current design cost modelling techniques used by consultant quantity surveyors. However, recent shifts in procurement trends provide fresh opportunities to re-invigorate design cost modelling research.