The Effect of Technology in the Field of Quantity Surveying and How It Affects Cost, Labour and Time
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The following are the objectives of this study:
- To examine the effect of technology in the field of quantity surveying.
- To examine how technology affects cost, labour and time in the field of quantity surveying.
- To examine the factors limiting the use of technology in the field of quantity surveying
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
This chapter gives an insight into various studies conducted by outstanding researchers, as well as explained terminologies with regards to the effect of technology in the field of quantity surveying and how it affects cost and labour.
The chapter also gives a resume of the history and present status of the problem delineated by a concise review of previous studies into closely related problems.
CONCEPTUAL REVIEW
It is apparent that we live in a dynamic world characterized by incessant technology change. The explosive growth of information and communication technology (ICT) otherwise shortened as information technology (IT) has had unqualifiable impact on business systems and processes (Rivard et al., 2004). Advancement in IT has made possible fundamental changes in the method of practice in all businesses and industries although at different levels (Li, 2000). The global acceptance and widespread adoption has accelerated the dimensions of competition not only among organizations globally but among professions locally (Hampson and Tatum, 1994).
The construction industry with the aim of levelling their colleagues in other industries have embraced the use of IT such as internet, computing, telephoning, satellite communication and electronic mailing to perform most, if not all of their activities (Ibidapo, 2000). The quantity surveyors’ ability to avail themselves of these emerging opportunities provided by the advent of IT depends on the adoption of new technologies (Castle, 2002). There is quite a lot of development in all areas of computer application to the industry. Of note are the expert systems, artificial intelligence, knowledge-base systems (KBS), artificial neural networking (ANN), robotics and computer aided design (Arif and Karam, 2001). Rivard et al. (2004) opined that the evolution of IT will have a profound impact on how organizations in the architectural, engineering and construction industry operate in the way other industries such as manufacturing and banking have adopted and benefited from long ago. He noted that this is already the case in many of the developed countries around the world. In lieu of this, Honey (1998) reported that the turn of the last century has seen a reduction in paper-based operation in quantity surveying (QS) offices in UK while electronic led-processes are leading to less dependence on taking-off sheets and other ancillary stationery. The QS profession in Nigeria has experienced significant changes over the past decade in terms of the scope and type of services provided within the construction industry (Oladapo, 2006). These changes have occurred primarily in response to changing industry/client demands, IT developments, increased levels of competition for services and the vital role of the QS in achieving improved service delivery. Moreover, given the increasingly global nature of construction industry obstinate by extremely high levels of domestic competition and resultant low profit margin levels, there is no doubt that the construction industry has to improve its information flow and project delivery mechanism (Wager, 1998). Thus, as information flow increasingly become electronic, QS computing facilities, software and databases will need to develop in a compatible manner. Nigerian quantity surveyors will need to adapt to changes in work patterns to improve their efficiency and develop new markets to maintain competitive advantage and enhance profitability through the adoption of IT. In summary, the Nigeria construction industry in general and the QS profession in particular are facing the challenges of effectively utilizing the rapid expanding technological environment in which it operates to its full advantage (Oyediran and Odusami, 2004). This paper therefore examines the IT products in terms of software packages available to quantity surveyors in Nigeria, the level of adoption and their impact on QS service delivery.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter describes methods and procedures used in conducting this research work. The description of the procedure is done under the following headings:
- Research design,
- Area of study
- Population of the study
- Sample and sampling procedure
- Instrumentation
- Procedure for data collection
- Procedure for data analysis
Research Design
The survey research method was used for this study. This was considered appropriate because survey design generally can be used to effectively investigate problems in realistic settings. The survey technique will also allow the researcher to examine several variables and use multi-variate statistics to analyze data.
Area of the Study
The study was conducted in Lagos State, Nigeria. Lagos is the most beautiful cities in Nigeria. The population of Lagos State, according to the Lagos State Government is 19.5 million, a number disputed by the Nigerian Government and judged unreliable by the National Population Commission of Nigeria. The study was carried out Philips consulting limited Lagos State.
Population of the Study
The population consists of the entire staff of September One Consulting limited Lagos State. With a staff strength of 50 employees (personnel dept, 2015).
Sample Size and Sampling Techniques
Out of the population of 50 persons in September One Consulting limited, 50 persons were selected using the simple random sampling (srs) technique. The logic behind this is in conformity with the views of Okoh (2005) in his book, the principles of educational research. He opined that for any population below 100 persons or object at least more than 50% of the population is adopted as its sample to enhance effective representation so that conclusions from the study can be generalized.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
BIO DATA OF RESPONDENTS
CHAPTER FIVE
FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The objectives of the study were to
- To examine the effect of technology in the field of quantity surveying.
- To examine how technology affects cost, labour and time in the field of quantity surveying.
- To examine the factors limiting the use of technology in the field of quantity surveying
Findings from the study revealed the following
- Technology has a significant effect in the field of quantity surveying.
- Technology improves the efficiency of quantity surveying in Nigeria.
- Technology has an effect on cost,labour and time in the field of quantity surveying
CONCLUSION
Conclusively, the main factor affecting cost of construction as opined by the three key players in the construction industry is cost of materials. Since Quantity Surveyors are cost experts they are in the unique position to examine these factors and take care to estimate, include contingencies in the budget, plan for, and mitigate the adverse effects of these factors on the project cost. Clients, Contractors and Consultants should give an economic approach to construction work such that they would be able to identify the dominating factors leading to high cost of construction in Nigeria and apply the proffered solutions to minimizing same so as to restore client’s confidence in consultants, reduce investment risks, and generally boost the viability and sustainability of the industry.
REFERENCES
- Arif, A.A. and Karam, A.H. (2001), “Architectural practices and their use of IT in the Western Cape Province, South Africa”,Journal of Info. Tech. in Construction, 6, 17-34.
- Castle, G. (2002), New technology: opportunity or threat? In: D. (ed.)New aspects of quantity surveying Practice, Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford, UK, 189-220.
- Hampson, K.D. and Tatum, C.B. (1994), “Strategies for appropriate technology and competitive performance in infrastructure construction”, Proceedings of the National Construction Management Conference, Sydney, Australia, 267-268.
- Honey, R. (1998), “Make IT a fundamental part of our business”, Chartered Surveyor, 57.
- Ibidapo, O.O. (2000), Appraisal of the impact of information technology in quantity surveying practice in Nigeria, B.Tech thesis, Department of Quantity Surveying, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
- Li, H. (2000), “The IT performance evaluation in the construction industry”, Proceedings of the 33rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, Hong Kong.
- Oladapo, A.A. (2006), “The impact of ICT on professional practice in the Nigerian construction industry”, The Electronic J. of Info. Sys. in Developing Countries, XXIV(II), 1-19
- Oyediran, O.S. and Odusami, K.T. (2004), “Whiter the Nigerian quantity surveyors in the information technology age”, An International Journal of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), 1(1&2), 1-16.
- Rivard, H., Froese, T., Waugh, L.M., El-Diraby, T., Mora, R., Torres, H., Gill, S.M. and O’Reilly, T. (2004), “Case studies on the use of information technology in the Canadian construction Industry”,J. of Information Technology in Construction Industry, 9, 9-34.