Acta Structilia

Factor analysis of quality assurance practices in small and medium-sized road-construction projects: A South African perspective

Although implementing quality assurance (QA) processes in construction is important in the South African economy, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) faced difficulties in improving rural road infrastructure and high-quality roads. Hardly any effort is made on to how sustain quality in road-project construction through suitable construction strategy in local governments. This article aims to analyse and examine the quality of road-construction projects built by SMEs contractors in Mopani District Municipality, South Africa. The article follows a quantitative survey approach in which a three-section questionnaire was administered to 160 purposively selected road- building practitioners in South African construction SMEs. The questionnaire was structured into three parts, which sought the participants' profile, identified the quality assurance practices (QAPs) incorporated in the construction SMEs' road-building programmes, and identified the factors that negatively influence the implementation of QA processes. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Descriptive statistics was used to determine the reliability of the various constructs, mean scores, and standard deviations. The empirical findings established eight QAPs that were reliable and valid for implementation processes that can control or minimise their causes of poor quality in projects undertaken by construction SMEs' level of skill acquisition. These are: project planning and control techniques; project construction design; process implementation and process improvement; financial management; organisational structures; involvement of people, as well as quality standards and measurements. The eight factors attained high Cronbach Alpha values above the recommended 0.70, which indicates high internal consistencies among the sub-scales. This article is significant in that project managers working in similar environments may use the results of this study either as diagnostic tools or as a reference benchmark for strategic interventions in solving construction projects-related problems. The researchers also recommend that these practices are for QA in construction projects undertaken by SMEs in South Africa

Alhoewel implementering van gehalteversekeringsprosesse in konstruksie belangrik is in die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie, het klein en medium-grootte ondernemings (KMO's) probleme ondervind met die verbetering van landelike padinfrastruktuur en hoëgehalte-paaie. Min moeite word gedoen oor hoe om gehalte in die bou van padprojekte deur middel van geskikte konstruksiestrategieë in plaaslike regerings te handhaaf. Hierdie artikel het ten doel om die gehalte van padbouprojekte wat deur MKO-kontrakteurs in Mopani Distrikmunisipaliteit in Suid-Afrika gebou is, te analiseer en te ondersoek. Die artikel volg ' n kwantitatiewe opnamebenadering waarin ' n drie-afdeling vraelys aan 160 doelgerigte padbou-praktisyns in Suid-Afrikaanse konstruksie-KMO's gestuur is. Die vraelys is in drie dele gestruktureer, die deelnemers se profile, die ïdentifisering van gehalteversekeringspraktyke (QAPs) in die konstruksie-KMO se padbouprogramme, en die faktore wat die implementering van KV-prosesse negatief beïnvloed. SPSS-weergawe 23, die Statistiese Pakket vir die Sosiale Wetenskappe, is gebruik om die data te ontleed. Beskrywende statistiek is gebruik om die betroubaarheid van die verskillende konstrukte, gemiddelde tellings en standaardafwykings te bepaal. Die empiriese bevindinge het agt KVP's vasgestel wat betroubaar en geldig was vir implementeringsprosesse wat hul oorsake van swak gehalte in projekte wat deur konstruksie-KMO's onderneem word, se vlak van vaardigheidsverkryging kan beheer of verminder. Dit is: projekbeplanning en beheertegnieke; projek konstruksie ontwerp; verwerking van implementering en prosesverbetering; finansiële bestuur; organisatoriese strukture; betrokkenheid van mense, en gehalte standaarde en metings. Die agt faktore het hoë Cronbach Alpha-waardes bo die aanbevole 0.70 bereik wat dui op hoë interne geldigheid tussen die subskale. Hierdie artikel is beduidend omdat projekbestuurders wat in soortgelyke omgewings werk, die resultate van hierdie studie gebruik as diagnostiese gereedskap of as verwysende maatstaf vir strategiese intervensies in die oplossing van konstruksieprojekte-verwante probleme

Challenges facing newly established quantity-surveying firms to secure tenders in South Africa

The article aims to determine the challenges faced by newly established quantity-surveying firms (NEQSFs) in securing tenders in South Africa. A quantitative research approach was implemented in the study which included a literature review and a questionnaire survey to identify the barriers experienced by NEQSFs. The results revealed that the specific challenges faced by NEQSFs are political influence and corruption in the awarding of tenders, excessive discounting of professional fees, and favouring large and established firms over NEQSFs. This article is relevant, as it contributes to the understanding of key challenges faced by NEQSFs and reveals gaps to be filled in order to position these new firms on a higher platform to be able to operate within the profession. Furthermore, it also demonstrates to potential entrepreneurs the importance of considering these challenges in the start-up and growth of their businesses.

Die doelwit van hierdie studie is om die uitdagings van nuutgevestigde bourekenaarsfirmas (NGBRFs) in Suid-Afrika ten opsigte van die toekenning van tenders te bepaal. 'n Kwantitatiewe navorsingsmetode is gevolg wat 'n literatuurstudie asook vraelyste ingesluit het om te bepaal watter struikelblokke NGBRFs ervaar. Die resultate bevestig spesifieke uitdagings wat NGBRFs ondervind in die toekenning van tenders, onder andere politieke invloed en korupsie, buitensporige afslag op professionele gelde deur ander firmas en die bevoordeling van groter en gevestigde firmas bo die NGBRFs. Hierdie artikel is relevant omrede dit bydra tot die bewusmaking van uitdagings wat NGBRFs ondervind en om die gapings te identifiseer om hierdie firmas die geleentheid te gee om met groter firmas mee te ding. Die resultate van hierdie studie bevestig die hoofuitdagings wat NGBRFs ondervind in die toekenning van tenders in Suid-Afrika en dat dit belangrik is vir potensiële entrepreneurs om hierdie faktore in ag te neem in die vestiging en groei van hul besighede.

Performance analysis of small and medium-sized construction firms in Oyo State, Nigeria

This article examines time and cost performance of projects executed by small and medium-sized construction firms with a view to enhancing the firms' capabilities. The study adopted a quantitative descriptive analysis based on primary and archival data. Sixty-eight (68) valid questionnaires obtained from top managers of the firms provided primary quantitative data for the assessment. Secondary data were collected on the initial and final contract sums as well as on the initial and completion times of 184 public projects executed by the firms. Data collected were analysed using descriptive analysis. The findings indicated that the small firms specialised in general building works, while the medium-sized firms specialised in civil works, in addition to general building works. Project values in the case of small construction firms ranged between N1 million and N50 million, while those of medium-sized construction firms ranged between N51 million and N100 million. The performance index (PI) of the projects executed by the firms showed a general underperformance level. Approximately 96.12% and 31.03% of the projects executed by small and medium-sized firms, respectively, had cost performance index (CPI) at budget level (CPI = 1). Meanwhile, 37.42% of the projects executed by the small firms and 24.13% of those executed by medium- sized firms were completed as planned, that is, they had schedule performance index (SPI = 1). The article provides implications for understanding the influence of the construction firms' profile in relation to their PI that could assist in the capability development of small and medium-sized construction firms.

Hierdie artikel ondersoek die tyd en koste prestasie van projekte wat uitgevoer word deur klein en mediumgrootte konstruksiemaatskappye met die oog op die verbetering van die firmas se vermoëns. Die artikel het 'n kwantitatiewe beskrywende analise aangeneem wat gebaseer was op primêre en argiefdata. Agt-en-sestig (68) geldige vraelyste wat van topbestuurders van die firmas verkry is, het primêre kwantitatiewe data vir die assessering verskaf. Sekondêre data is ingesamel op die aanvanklike en finale kontrakbedrae asook aanvanklike en voltooiingstye van 184 openbare projekte wat deur die firmas uitgevoer is. Data wat ingesamel is, is ontleed met behulp van beskrywende analise. Die bevindinge dui op spesialisasie van die klein ondernemings in algemene bouwerke, terwyl die mediumgrootte firmas ook in siviele werke gespesialiseer het. Projekwaardes in die geval van klein konstruksiefirmas het tussen N1 en N50million gewissel, terwyl dié van mediumgrootte konstruksiefirmas tussen N51 en N100million gewissel het. Die prestasie-indeks (PI) van die projekte wat deur die maatskappye uitgevoer is, het 'n algemene onderprestasievlak getoon. Ongeveer 96.12% en 31.03% van die projekte wat uitgevoer is deur die klein en mediumgrootte maatskappye het onderskeidelik die koste-prestasie-indeks (VPI) op begrotingsvlak (VPI=1). Intussen is 37.42% van die projekte uitgevoer deur die klein firmas en 24.13% van dié wat deur mediumgrootte maatskappye uitgevoer is, volgens plan beplan, naamlik dat hulle skedule-prestasie-indeks (SPI=1) gehad het. Die artikel bied implikasies vir die begrip van die invloed van konstruksiefirmas se profiel in verhouding tot hul PI wat kan help met die vermoë-ontwikkeling van klein en mediumgrootte konstruksiefirmas.

The implementation of alternative dispute-resolution methods by architectural practitioners in South Africa

Disputes within the built environment are usually diverse, with their complexity often depending on the number of role players and difficulty of the construction project. Disputes can be resolved through litigation, but this is often costly and time consuming. A study in 2012 reveals that, among others, arbitration, mediation, negotiation and adjudication are different forms of Alternative Dispute-Resolution (ADR) methods preferred and used to resolve disputes in the built environment. This article offers insight into the current preference and application of ADR methods by architectural practitioners in the South African built environment. Registered persons, as defined by the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP), formed the population of this study. According to SACAP, a registered person is defined as a person who is registered in one of the categories of professionals and/or candidates. The study will refer to architectural practitioners as a collective population group. A questionnaire survey was distributed to 13 622 registered SACAP professionals and candidates to determine the implementation of ADR methods. This questionnaire was distrusted by the Chief Operations Officer, Mrs Barbara van Stade to the aforementioned SACAP database. The survey response amounted to 396 participating architectural practitioners, resulting in 2.91% of registered architectural professionals and candidates in the South African built environment. Consequently, this is the most comprehensive study on the preferred use of ADR methods by architectural practitioners in the built environment of South Africa. This study specifically focuses on architectural practitioners who have been involved in settling disputes between the period of 2012 to 2016. The findings reveal a shifting preference in ADR methods used since what the previous study found in 2012. Although previous studies indicate adjudication as the preferred method to resolve disputes, the data reveals that architectural practitioners increasingly make use of negotiation, followed by mediation and then arbitration. This study identifies current ADR trends, and provides a perspective on the future development of ADR mechanisms for architectural professionals in the South African built environment.

Dispute in die konstruksiebedryf is oor die algemeen uiteenlopend en die kompleksiteit daarvan is gewoonlik afhanklik van die aantal rolspelers en moeilikheidsgraad van die konstruksieprojek. Geskille kan soms opgelos word deur litigasie, maar dit is dikwels duur sowel as tydrowend. 'n Studie in 2012 onthul dat arbitrasie, bemiddeling, onderhandeling en beoordeling onder meer verskillende vorme van alternatiewe geskilbeslegting (ADR) metodes is wat verkies en gebruik word om geskille in die konstruksiebedryf op te los. Hierdie studie bied insig tot die huidige voorkeur en implementering van ADR-metodes soos toegepas deur argitektuurpraktisyns in die Suid-Afrikaanse boubedryf. Geregistreerde persone, soos beskryf deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Raad vir die Argitektuurprofessie (SACAP), het die bevolking van die studie gevorm. Volgens SACAP word 'n geregistreerde persoon gedefinieer as iemand wat geregistreer is in een van die kategorieë van professionele mense en/of kandidate. 'n Vraelys is versprei na 13 622 geregistreerde SACAP professionele mense en kandidate om die huidige implementering van ADR-metodes te bepaal. Hierdie vraelys is uitgestuur deur die hoofbedryfsbeampte, Mev Barbara van Stade, aan die voorgenoemde SACAP-databasis. Die vraelys is volledig voltooi deur 396 argitektuurpraktisyns en verteenwoordig dus 2.91% van geregistreerde professionele mense en kandidate in die Suid-Afrikaanse boubedryf. Hierdie is die mees omvattende studie oor die voorkeur en implementering van ADR-metodes soos gebruik deur argitektuurpraktisyns in die bouomgewing van Suid-Afrika. Hierdie artikel fokus spesifiek op argitektuurpraktisyns in die boukunde wat vanaf 2012 tot 2016 by geskilbeslegtigingprosedures betrokke was. Die waarnemings dui op 'n verskuiwing van voorkeur rakende ADR-metodes sedert die vorige studie se gepubliseerde navorsingsresultate in die gebruik daarvan in 2012. Alhoewel vorige studies onthul dat beoordeling as die mees gekose metode gebruik is, toon die huidige resultate van die studie 'n toenemende gebruik in onderhandeling, gevolg deur bemiddeling/ mediasie en dan arbitrasie. Hierdie studie identifiseer huidige ADR-tendense en bied 'n perspektief op die toekomstige ontwikkeling van ADR-meganismes vir argitektuurpraktisyns in die Suid-Afrikaanse konstruksie-industrie.

Facilitation of construction project management through building contracts: A South African perspective on the locally developed suites of contracts

This article reviews the depth to which the South African suites of contracts may facilitate the effective implementation of construction project management practices. The hypothesis states that the standard South African forms of contract for building work have evolved to promote control through construction project management processes. The South African suites of contracts are reviewed against the project management office's (PMO) main focus areas for best practices. This endeavours to establish the conduciveness to facilitate good project management functions on building projects. The main clauses of each contract are compared to the construction project management knowledge areas. Two contracts are reviewed, and it is established that both contracts (General Conditions of Contract for Construction Work 2015 and the Joint Building Contracts Committee's (JBCC) Principal Building Agreement Edition 6.2) provide the employer's agent (EA) the necessary authority to manage the project for its intended purpose. It became apparent that the contracts may allow certain project management functions to be implemented by placing different emphases on different aspects of the contract. Due to the complexity and uniqueness of each project, the number of standard contract conditions governing a contract are limited. A strong project management function must take place during the planning phases. The contract used influences the way in which the project management functions are applied during the project life cycle (PLC). Thus, the project manager must have an intimate knowledge of the content of the contract in order to implement the desired construction project management functions, as required during each of the PLC stages.

Hierdie artikel ondersoek die diepte waarop die Suid-Afrikaanse bou-kontrakte die effektiewe implementering van konstruksieprojekbestuurspraktyke kan fasiliteer. Die hipotese verklaar dat die standaard Suid-Afrikaanse kontrakte vir bouwerk so ontwikkel het om beheer deur konstruksieprojekbestuursprosesse te bevorder. Die Suid-Afrikaanse bou-kontrakte word vergelyk met die projekbestuurskantoor se hoof fokusareas vir beste praktyke. Dit streef daarna om die bevorderlikheid van goeie projekbestuursfunksies op bouprojekte te evalueer. Die hoofklousules van elke kontrak word vergelyk met die konstruksieprojekbestuur kennis areas. Twee kontrakte word aanskou met die doel om vas te stel of beide kontrakte (General Conditions of Contract tor Construction Work 2015 and the Joint Building Contracts Committee's (JBCC) Principal Building Agreement Edition 6.2) die werkgewer se agent die nodige magtiging verleen om die projek te bestuur vir sy beoogde doel. Dit het duidelik geword dat die kontrakte kan toelaat dat sekere projekbestuursfunksies geïmplementeer word deur die klem op verskillende aspekte van die kontrak te plaas. As gevolg van die kompleksiteit en uniekheid van elke projek, is die aantal standaardkontrakvoorwaardes wat 'n kontrak beheer, beperk. 'n Sterk projekbestuursfunksie moet tydens die beplanningsfases plaasvind. Die gebruik van die kontrak beïnvloed die manier waarop die projekbestuurfunksies toegepas word gedurende die projek lewensiklus. Die projekbestuurder moet dus 'n intieme kennis hê van die inhoud van die kontrak om die verlangde konstruksieprojekbestuursfunksies te implementeer, soos benodig tydens elk van die projeklewensiklus stadiums.

An appraisal of the use of cannabis on construction sites

There is increasing concern regarding the impact of the consumption of cannabis by construction site workers on workplace safety and performance. This preliminary study explores the use of cannabis as a psychotropic drug and its consequences and effects on construction workers, considering the decriminalisation of its private use and personal consumption in South Africa. These consequences and effects can be characterized as being behavioural, perceptual, physiological, emotional and cognitive. This study is a precursor for a more detailed ongoing study. The article was developed based on a review of empirical and theoretical studies previously published in a wide range of journals and commissioned reports. Literature relating to drug and substance use in the construction workplace was obtained from research databases. The keywords "cannabis" and "construction industry" were used to search the databases. Of the number of related articles found, a total of 41 articles and reports were cited in the study. The study reveals that cannabis use has short-term health effects such as acute mental illnesses, which could result in impaired reasoning and perceptions. Long-term effects of frequent and continuous cannabis use include respiratory infections and hyperactivity. Furthermore, the after-effects of the use and abuse of cannabis by construction workers poses numerous threats to the workplace safety of the construction industry. The article identifies loss of concentration and low productivity on site, abnormal and irrational behaviour, absenteeism from work and poor work quality as impacts of cannabis use on construction sites. The article highlights the need for site supervisors and construction employers to introduce improvement mechanisms to control the use of cannabis on construction sites.

Daar is toenemende besorgdheid oor die impak van die verbruik van cannabis deur konstruksiewereldwerkers op veiligheid en prestasie op die werkplek. Hierdie voorlopige studie ondersoek die gebruik van cannabis as 'n psigotropiese middel en die gevolge daarvan vir konstruksiewerkers in die lig van die dekriminalisering van sy private gebruik en persoonlike verbruik in Suid-Afrika. Hierdie gevolge kan gekenmerk word as gedrags-, perseptueel-, fisiologies-, emosioneel- en kognitief. Hierdie studie is 'n voorloper vir 'n meer gedetailleerde studie wat aan die gang is. Die artikel is ontwikkel op grond van 'n oorsig van empiriese en teoretiese studies wat voorheen in 'n wye verskeidenheid tydskrifte en opdragverslae gepubliseer is. Literatuur wat verband hou met dwelm- en substansgebruik in die konstruksiewerkplek is verkry uit navorsingsdatabasisse. Die sleutelwoorde "cannabis" en "konstruksiebedryf" is gebruik om die databasisse te soek. Van die aantal verwante artikels wat gevind is, is in totaal 41 artikels en verslae in die studie aangehaal. Die studie het aan die lig gebring dat die gebruik van cannabis korttermyn-gesondheidseffekte gehad het, soos akute geestesongesteldhede wat kan lei tot verswakte redenasie en persepsies. Langtermyn-effekte van gereelde en deurlopende gebruik van cannabis is gevind om respiratoriese infeksies en hiperaktiwiteit in te sluit. Die nadelige gevolge van die gebruik en misbruik van cannabis deur konstruksiewerkers stel talle bedreigings vir die veiligheid van die werkplek in die konstruksiebedryf. Die artikel het die verlies aan konsentrasie en lae produktiwiteit op die terrein geïdentifiseer, abnormale en irrasionele gedrag, afwesigheid van werk en swak werkgehalte as gevolg van die gebruik van cannabis op konstruksieterreine. Die studie beklemtoon die noodsaaklikheid vir die terrein toesighouers en konstruksiewerkgewers om verbeteringsmeganismes in te voer om die gebruik van cannabis op konstruksieterreine te beheer.

Assessment of resuscitation strategies of abandoned projects: A case study of public tertiary education institutions' buildings in Osun State, Nigeria

Abandoned projects have contributed significantly to the inadequacy of teaching and research facilities in the Nigerian tertiary education institutions. This article examines the strategies for resuscitating the projects based on the financing options that were employed. The aim of this article is to suggest sustainable cash-flow strategies that could be appropriated for financing abandoned projects, in general, and tertiary education institutions projects, in particular. The article adopts a triangulation of qualitative and quantitative methodology. The respondents consist of 47 top officials in the physical development departments in Osun State public tertiary institutions. The qualitative assessment is based on open-ended face-to-face interviews involving three key informants, namely one quantity surveyor and two engineers. Data collected are analysed using mean analysis, Kruskal-Wallis (K-W) test, and ATLAS.ti 7. Solicitation for funds and yearly budgetary allocation were both frequently used and were efficient strategies. On the other hand, public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement, and the establishment of institution-based, abandoned project-resuscitation unit/department, and levy of beneficiaries were strategies that were both least used and inefficient. The article provides implications for financing abandoned educational projects in the education sector.

Projekte wat verlaat word, het aansienlik bygedra tot die ontoereikendheid van onderrig- en navorsingsfasiliteite in die Nigeriese tersiêre opvoedkundige instellings. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die strategieë vir die herlewing van hierdie projekte, gebaseer op die finansieringsopsies wat gebruik is. Die doel van die artikel is om volhoubare kontantvloeistrategieë voor te stel wat aangewend kan word vir die finansiering van verlate projekte in die algemeen en tersiêre opvoedkundige instellingsprojekte spesifiek. Die artikel gebruik 'n driehoek van kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe metodologie. Die respondente sluit in 47 topamptenare in die fisiese ontwikkelingsdepartemente in Osun State se openbare tersiêre instellings. Die kwalitatiewe assessering is gegrond op oop aangesig-tot-aangesig-onderhoud met drie sleutelinformante, naamlik een bourekenaar en twee ingenieurs. Die data wat ingesamel is, is geanaliseer met behulp van gemiddelde analise, Kruskal-Wallis (K-W) toets en ATLAS. ti 7. Die werwing van fondse en jaarlikse begrotingstoewysing was beide gereeld gebruik en was doeltreffende strategieë. Aan die ander kant was die openbare-private vennootskap (PPP)-ooreenkomste, en die vestiging van 'n instansie-gebaseerde projekherlewingseenheid/-afdeling, en die heffing van begunstigdes, strategieë wat die minste benut en ook ondoeltreffend was. Die artikel bevat implikasies vir die finansiering van verlate opvoedkundige projekte in die onderwyssektor.

Quantity surveying pre-contract administration by Fanie Buys First publication: 2016