Doctoral Degrees (Quantity Surveying and Construction Management)
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Item Open Access The use of ratio conceptual cost estimation for petrochemical construction projects in South Afric(University of the Free State, 2011) Smith, Willem Petrus; Marx, H. J.English: The fast pace in which construction projects are being executed and the fact that almost all green field projects in the petrochemical industry are constructed by means of "fast-track" methodologies, has the effect that financial management becomes increasingly difficult. The congested construction program together with the increased emphasis on accurate financial reporting, created an opportunity to improve forecasting methods without spending too much time on such exercises. In my personal capacity, I found the current typical procedure of allowing for additional scope of work, inadequate. The time allocated to come up with estimated costs for new scope / additional scope does not allow for comprehensive measurements to conduct detailed estimates. The only alternative was therefore to find other means of obtaining fairly accurate estimated costs for proposed new scopes of work. Construction time will not be increased to allow for exercises like these, in fact, future construction periods will rather decrease, which will lead to a compounding effect of the problem. To me the only solution is to employ an estimating method that has proofed itself in the industry over many years. The quickest estimating methods are the conceptual estimates of which ratio conceptual estimating will probably take the least time. The downside of this form of estimating is that it is also not as accurate as detailed estimates, but if it is based on good historical data, one can get good results that will be more than adequate for this purpose. My discussions with clients and other professionals in the field over the past couple of years reiterated the urgency of an improved financial forecasting procedure, especially when dealing with larger additions to the scope of work. Should ratio conceptual estimating be used, it must be clearly understood that this form of estimating is very dependable on the accuracy of the database on which it is based. A significant effort should be instilled in deriving at a good quality database. This takes a lot of time and it will not come cheap, but the benefit of this investment will be realized in future projects and will increase as the number of newly finished projects are added to the database.Item Open Access The construction project manager as communicator in the property development and construction industries(University of the Free State, 2015-04-10) Zulch, Benita Gertruida; Verster, J. J. P.English: Ineffective project communication may lead to project failure in respect of expected outcomes. Communication in the construction industry is important even though a qualified project team and manager plan, organise and manage a project. The construction project manager needs communication skills to communicate effectively and manage projects successfully to expected completion. The aim of this thesis is to propose a communication skills and leadership model for construction project management. Management of a project can apply the model. It can also be used to determine which communication skills the construction project manager should possess or should develop to communicate effectively. The results of the research indicate that construction project managers need the basic skill of being able to communicate effectively, with decision making and problem solving as the most important communication skills. A model is proposed to assist construction project management. This model can be developed further as an instrument to measure the maturity of a project manager or team.Item Open Access Procurement guidelines for project success in cost planning of construction projects(University of the Free State, 2014) Ramabodu, Molusiwa Stephan; Campbell, M. M.English: A number of factors contribute to cost overruns and delays in projects, some within the control of the project team, most of them not. These cost overruns and delays lead to additional costs and loss of productivity on work sites because of time lost. These factors are also not limited to certain regions, but occur in similar projects across the globe. Optimism bias and strategic misrepresentation are identified as the main causes of cost overruns in construction projects, estimates and costs. While the estimation process for this type of project is very complicated, certain techniques have been developed to assess risk and to plan for contingency for these types of problems. This is significant because the cost performance of construction projects is a key success criterion for project sponsors, since construction projects are notorious for running over budget. The concept of cost contingency, estimates, cost overruns, procurement, risk management and value management will be dominant in this study. The aim of this study is to propose a project flow chart model. When followed correctly, this model can reduce the risk of project overrun from the cost plan point of view. The results of the research indicate that the estimator must have the experience and skill to be able to produce accurate estimates. A model is proposed to guide the estimators on what to do before they can start with the estimating process.Item Open Access Project management in the built environment: the need for industry specific knowledge(University of the Free State, 2014-07-23) Burger, Michelle; Verster, J. J. P.English: The use of project management has expanded and is used in many industries. The generic component of project management across all industries without the necessary technical knowledge has been debated. This study investigates the knowledge base of construction project management and the need for industry specific knowledge. The study includes a literature and also empirical research section. The empirical study made use of interviews, a case study and questionnaires. A construction project management knowledge model was developed based on the research and research findings. The research findings suggest that a project manager in the built environment requires various types of knowledge – project management knowledge, industry specific knowledge and knowledge gained through experience. The project management knowledge includes the 13 areas from the construction extension to the PMBOK guide, the industry specific knowledge is divided into four main areas that are knowledge of construction science, knowledge of construction processes, knowledge of design processes and knowledge of financial cost factors and the knowledge through experience is gained through time spent working in the industry. The construction project management knowledge model aims to contribute to improving the project management environment, aiding in awareness of the various knowledge areas and subareas that are important and the NQF level that is suggested. This could contribute to sufficient education by creating awareness of the level of education a project manager in the built environment requires. Organisations could use the model as reference to determine which areas their project managers could improve on in order to develop and increase project management maturity in the organisation. The project management construction model also offers tertiary institutions a framework for syllabus planning of constructions project management courses. Further research is welcomed and may include improving the model, or using the model as foundation to develop a measuring instrument to determine the knowledge of a construction project manager.Item Open Access The influence of human behaviour factors on construction productivity(University of the Free State, 2013) Orando, Marcellus; Verster, J. J. P.; Zulch, B. G.Human factors as important sources for increasing efficiency and performance in the construction industry are often cited as contributors to project success. This stems from the limited success of technical management of projects in terms of completing projects in time, within approved cost and to a satisfactory quality. Against this background, the aim of the study was to investigate behavioural project systems management as a way of increasing success and productivity. The objective of the study was to identify and investigate human factors that may reinforce positive behaviours that in turn may improve productivity. The study identified and investigated 64 human factors that influence positive behaviours for improved construction productivity. The result of the study showed that although all 64 human factors are very significant in encouraging positive behaviours, 21 of the factors were found to be extremely significant and are more likely to exert a higher influence towards positive behaviours. The highest ranked human factor was identified as ‘ability and willingness to accept responsibility’ while the least ranked was identified as ‘charisma of leadership’. The study also identified and investigated 23 positive construction worker behaviours that may improve productivity. The result of the study further showed that although all these construction worker positive behaviours are very significant in influencing improved construction productivity, twelve of the positive behaviours were found to be extremely significant and are more likely to exert a higher influence on improved productivity. The highest ranked positive behaviour was identified as “completing task at hand on schedule” while the least ranked positive behaviour was identified as “making sacrifices for the well-being of the company”. Conclusions drawn from this research are that when the 64 factors are present in a construction environment, they influence the 23 positive behaviours, thus improving construction productivity. In addition, these positive behaviours serve as key behaviour indicators for motivation, commitment, satisfaction and loyalty levels of workers while twelve of these positive behaviours were identified as extremely significant positive behaviours and, serve as key behaviour indicators for motivation, commitment and loyalty levels of workers. From the research, recommendations that construction practitioners should pay attention and resources to such factors as effective communication, good co-worker relationships, staff skill development and good remuneration and fringe benefits are made in order to have a positive influencing on worker behaviour. Human behavioural management should therefore be introduced in project implementation for improving construction productivity.Item Open Access Volwassenheid van bourekenkundige kommunikasie in die konstruksiebedryf(University of the Free State, 2014-05-27) Berry, Frank Herman; Verster, J. J. P.English: Although the quantity surveyors had laid their claim to the building industry for more than a century, poor scientific knowledge analyses with reference to the professional communication capabilities and communication instruments in the construction industry still exists. The aim of this thesis is to measure the determinants of a communication maturity model in respect of the communication capabilities of the profession. The proposed most important determinants used were brought to light through research undertaken by the University of the Free State in collaboration with the Wirtschafts University in Vienna, Austria in 2005/6. The results of the survey indicate that respondents were positive with regard to professional communication in general. This can influence the construction industry with continuous advantages for the property development environment. The survey results indicate that the determinant contractual communication of the quantity surveyor is experienced the most positive. The determinant leadership communication of the quantity surveyor is experienced the least positive. A model of the most important determinants for effective communication was used to measure the maturity of the profession’s communication capabilities in the construction industry.Item Open Access The development and assessment of and integrated skills development model for emerging construction contractors(University of the Free State, 2007-11) Lazarus, Spencer James; Verster, J. J. P.English: Many strategies for emerging construction contractor development that are based on instruments such as targeted procurement have generally failed to empower emerging contractors because they are implemented without well-defined skills transfer frameworks. Emerging contractors continue to be regarded by construction clients and suppliers as a high commercial risk area and this presents further barriers to meaningful property development. Related to this is the lack of clear policy targets against which to measure the effectiveness of contractor support programmes. Furthermore, the majority of current support initiatives lack an integrated programme strategy. Interventions tend to be characterised by inadequate preparations, poor needs assessments and an inadequate understanding of the development needs of emerging contractors. This is evident by discontinuances, unstructured training approaches, ad-hoc mentorship, inadequate monitoring and evaluation that promote unsustainable skills transfer. The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) has put in place a training and mentoring programme that would result in the development of emerging contractors into sustainable business enterprises. The impact of the programme may be measured to determine the overall effectives of the programme in delivering developed and sustainable contractors to the construction industry. The above mentioned factors identified lead to the following problem that is addressed by the research: The problem statement addressed by the study is how to develop a holistic approach towards integrated skills development for emerging construction contractors, by developing a model that can be managed with quantitative and measurable outcomes.