The Effects of Digital Innovation in Quantity Surveying Service Delivery in Jos, Plateau State
Chapter One
Objectives of study
In achieving the aim of the study, the following objectives were outlined.
- To identify the digital innovations / software used by QS in Jos, Plateau state,
- To identify the effect of the use of digital innovation in Quantity Surveying delivery in Nigeria and
- To identify the challenges of the use of digital innovation by QS in Jos, Plateau state.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
The literature review for this study is covered in this chapter. There are two sections to the review. The first section focuses on digital innovation and the Construction Industry as a Whole; it offers a working awareness of challenges connected to information and communication needs in construction as well as the present roles of digital innovation in construction. The second section examines the use of ICT in the construction industry by quantity surveying professionals, ICT tools and applications for the industry, and perceived implementation problems. An overview of the Nigerian quantity surveying market concludes the chapter.
THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
In many economies, the building industry is the most significant sector. The Nigerian construction sector, for instance, has a 2010 GDP estimate of approximately GHC 3,900 million (Nigeria Statistical Service, 2010) and hence has a greater potential to affect GDP than any other service sector in the nation.
Additionally, the nature of the construction industry differs significantly from that of other sectors, like the industrial or retail sector, where procedures and the workplace are well-defined and managed (Gann, 2016).
One-off locations, one-off design solutions, one-off project teams, and typically large numbers of geographically dispersed organizations and individuals frequently reflect the transient nature and uniqueness of construction projects. This leads to a more fragmented communication platform and inevitably makes project communication activities complex.
In addition, the industry is distinguished by its distinctive products, on-site manufacturing, and ad hoc project teams with a high turnover rate. The industry depends on the usage of copious volumes of information over the course of a project in all these endeavors.
Construction Challenges
Today’s construction companies must adapt to a number of new problems, such as the need to focus more on clients, become more competitive, and increase productivity (Love, 2016). These difficulties can be attributed to elements that influence the working environment, such as the globalization of the economy, higher client performance standards, increased competition amongst local contractors, ongoing work practice reorganization, and labor relations. In light of this, several nations at various stages of socioeconomic development have realized the necessity and significance of taking action to enhance the performance of their building industries in order to fulfill their objectives for developmental goals (Ofori, 2000). The necessity to embrace technology and innovations in order to improve project performance is one of these methods.
Mohamed and Stewart (2003) claim that the majority of information about the building process is primarily reliant on conventional communication channels including in-person meetings and the exchange of paper documents such technical drawings, specifications, and site instructions. This is the reason why the construction industry has endured access issues, outdated information, and incomplete information for a long time (Shoesmith, 2015). Construction management, like most other businesses, depends on correct information, thus there is a long-standing demand to improve information management efficiency by exchanging vast amounts of information quickly and at a cheap cost (Deng et al., 2001).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this study seeks to identify the challenges of digital innovation in the field in Quantity Surveying delivery in Jos, Plateau state. This chapter presents the research methodology for the study. This chapter of the study presents the study design, population and target population, sampling, and data collection techniques as well as the data
RESEARCH DESIGN
For this study, exploratory research design was used. This was used because, the researcher aims at identifying the effect of digital innovation in the field in Quantity Surveying delivery in Jos, Plateau state.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
Population is the entire aggregation of items from which population can be drawn for a study (Opoku-Amankwa, 2009). According to Passer (2004), a sample frame represents the “operational definition of the population”. The population for this study was registered QS firms in Jos. The list of registered QS firms in Nigeria was obtained from NIS. The list provided 46 registered quantity surveying firms in Nigeria with their respective locations and contact details. According to Nigeria Institution of Surveyors NIS (2017), the membership of the quantity surveying division located in Jos, Plateau consisted of 43 firms. Therefore, the population for this research is 43 quantity surveying firms.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS
To accomplish the goals of the study, a total of fifty (50) respondents were sampled for the study. The characteristics have been presented in tables and charts in order to be subservient to the comprehension and generation of confidence in the reliability and veracity of the data collected.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION
INTRODUCTION
This chapter summarizes the results from the research and draws conclusions from the collated data. It begins by summing up all the core issues discussed earlier in previous chapters including a review of how the key objectives were satisfied and a summary of the results are described. Finally, conclusions are drawn and recommendations for action are also included.
SUMMARY OF THE RESEARCH FINDINGS
As mentioned earlier in chapter one, this research was set out to identify the challenges of digital innovation(ICT) in the field in Quantity Surveying delivery in Jos, Plateau state, three research objectives were adopted in order to collectively satisfy this aim. The study produced some significant findings that are summarized below.
CONCLUSION
From the foregoing, it can be concluded that the technological innovation has positively impacted on the quality of quantity surveying services in the country. In addition, it could have enabled the firms to meet the high expectations of the client were it not for the poor ICT infrastructural facilities and inadequate power supply in the country. In this wise, the Nigeria Government and the professional institutions like the Nigeria Institution of Surveyors has a vital role to play at improving the ICT professional education, infrastructural facilities and power supply in the country to fully exploit the benefit of the technology in Jos, Plateau state. In all, the positive impact of the technology on the overall quality of the services of the QS practitioner is an indication that it is a suitable and veritable tool for enhancing or improving the services of the Quantity Surveying Industry in the country.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
On the basis of findings and conclusions drawn from the study, the following recommendations are proposed.
Financial support for digital innovation investment in construction industry.
Investing in ICT is no longer primarily buying a piece of hardware or software. It is now more of a potential long term investment in the process of change itself (Cleveland 2019). Due to obvious tight margins for funding ICT within most firms as revealed in this study, there is the need for some internal policies towards ICT investments in quantity surveying and construction firms. It is therefore recommended that, the construction firms should be motivated by the direct benefits of digital innovation and draw deliberate policies that provide some proportion of their internal budget for digital innovation investments. This will aim to improve both productivity and profitability for their benefit. Again, based on the understanding on the returns on digital innovation investment, financial institutions can assist consultants and contractors in Nigeria to finance their ICT investment by offering flexible credit facilities to firms seeking to invest in ICT. This will support their operations to improve efficiency and payback the facility. Furthermore, construction client may support contractors upon request, to procure ICT equipments for their contracts as a means to support efficiency and collaboration on their projects. This will be deducted on installments from their progress payments.
Training and management support for digital innovation in firms.
As observed from the study, the management of construction activities is gradually moving from the traditional paper based format to more digital processes. It is therefore recommended that adequate ICT training and technical support for professionals especially the quantity surveyors in the construction firms should be vigorously promoted by employers and other stakeholders such as various professional bodies and associations of the industry in Nigeria. This should aim at providing the necessary awareness and build capacity to meet future challenges in this marketplace.
Increase ICT content in construction education at all level
As explained by Foresight 2000, the advent of computer and ICT integration in the construction processes creates the need for “cross disciplinary education‟. By recognizing the importance of digital innovation education in quantity surveying and for that matter construction, it is recommended that a robust content of digital innovation education which will generate adequate construction digital innovation skill acquisition should be incorporated in construction courses as a supplement to technical knowledge and expertise in various fields of construction study. A re-think‟ in this respect will help to deliver the require ICT skills for the Nigerian Quantity Surveying industry.
This will also be significant to develop and support the understanding of how ICT could be use to support construction process at all levels to facilitate the necessary change and innovation.
REFERENCES
- Adeoye, A.A. (2016) Computerized Information System for Surveyors, Information Management Consultants, Lagos.
- Adetola, F.O. (2018), “Quantity surveying and technology development in the next millennium”, NIQS 18th Biannual Conference.
- Akintoye, A (2001) Quantity Surveying; An art or Science? A researchers’ Perspective, in: Moneke, G.O. (Ed.): Quantity Surveying and Total Cost Management, The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Lagos, 19–41
- Castle, G. (2002), New technology: opportunity or threat? In: D. (ed.) New aspects of quantity surveying Practice, Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford, UK, 189-220
- Chartered COBRA 2009: The Construction and Building Research Conference of the Royal Institution of Surveyors Held at the University of Cape Town, 10-11 September 2009
- E-BusinessW@tch(2005): Sector Report No. 08-I (July 2005) ICT and Electronic Business in the Construction Industry, Key issues and case studies.
- Faraget al (2009). Usage of Information Technology in construction firms; Malaysian Construction Induatry. European journal of scientific research, Vol 28 No3, pp 412- 429