Abstract
This research studied “evaluating the effectiveness of project delivery methods in South-East
Nigeria”. There are alternatives delivery methods for executing a project, the choice of
selection are mostly done on familiarity bases, which is purely subjective and may not offer a
better approach to optimize the overall success of the project. An extensive review of
literatures in relation to the study was made with respect to text and similar work done by other
scholars. The choice of a delivery method of a project needs to be subjected to a proper
evaluation, with respect to the key pertinent issues (client objectives). The types of project
delivery methods was sieved first through an extensive literature review; and about Nine (9)
methods were identified. An evaluation on the delivery method is further carried out using
related literatures. Eleven (11) pertinent issues (client and project objectives) were used to
assess how effective a delivery method responds to a pertinent
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
The construction industry is one of the important Economic Sectors especially
in a developing country like Nigeria, Infact, no sector of the economy can
develop effectively without infrastructural facilities e.g. building, roads etc.
Osofisan (2007), states that “in many developing countries like Nigeria, the
construction sector to which the building industry belongs is one of the biggest
contributors to the Gross National Product (GNP)”. She further concluded that
“Similarly, it has been noted that in some developed countries, more than 16
percent of their GNP is devoted to the construction industries”. The construction
sector is a sub-sector of the economy that creates basic infrastructure needed to
accommodate inputs of all other sectors. That’s is why construction products are
regarded as the essential of life and economic development.
However, inspite of the importance of the industry, construction projects are
complicated, parallel, dynamic in nature, and are faced with a lot of problems
especially in Nigeria. Construction projects, therefore, require adequate and
effective project delivery methods. Consequently clients/owners of construction
projects are often bothered with diverse needs in their projects. In order to
accommodate these differing needs, various methods for contractual relations
have evolved; these various methods are referred to as “project delivery
methods”. A project delivery method could be defined as a system designed and
packaged to effectively and collectively bring together the owners intentions
and the project scope definition in relation to the design and construction issues,
in order to be effectively managed by the construction industry participants
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However, in the early 1980s, owners of construction projects have been putting
greater pressure on the construction industry to improve quality, reduced cost
and more importantly, compress the period from project conception to project
completion for all kinds of public and private projects. As a result, both owners
and the industry have been experimenting with various forms of project delivery
methods with varying degrees of success, as even new methods yet to be
experimented are discovered. However, without effective project delivery
methods, construction projects may be abandoned.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Construction projects differ from each other, infact two projects with the same
design still differ and this is one of the attributes of the industry. Construction
projects are unique and thus, exhibit certain characteristics which is different
from every other sector of the economy; Therefore, construction projects should
be subjected to a proper evaluation of the available alternative methods of its
delivery in relation to the owners interest and the scope of the project,
considering also other pertinent issues because ineffective project delivery
method could lend to
? Abandonment of project
? Cost-overrun of project
? Delay in project completion time
? Less quality product
? Lack of technology input
? Disallowance of flexibility and innovation
? Multiple construction contracts
? Increased adversarial relationship
? Reduction of possibility of competition
? Increase in life cycle cost etc.
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The uniqueness of every project has reduced the chance of selecting like
projects and executing them with the same method. Most selections of
alternative methods are done based on a previously used method and this
reduces the chance of achieving maximum success for many projects. And these
have led to some of the above listed problems
1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
The aim of this study is to evaluate how project delivery methods are used in the
Nigerian construction industry, with the following objectives:
1. To find out various types of projects delivery methods used in the
construction industry.
2. To evaluate the effectiveness of various project delivery methods.
3. To identify the factors influencing the choice of project delivery methods
4. To recommend suitable alternative project delivery methods.
5. To find out if the size of a project could affect the choice of its delivery.
6. To find out if evaluation is usually carried out on most project before
selecting a particular method of delivery.
7. To investigate the degree of relationship between/among the three (3) key
issues (i.e cost time and quality) and their behaviour in selecting a
delivery method.
1.4 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF STUDY
The scope of this study comprised of response from professionals in the
construction industry and type of project for this study will be limited to
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projects in four (4) South-Eastern States in Nigeria i.e. (Anambra, Abia, Enugu
and Imo).
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
This study will guide project owners or construction proponents in selecting an
appropriate delivery method for their construction projects in order to ensure the
overall performance of the project.
It will also help professionals to advice and guide their clients, by helping them
to point out issues which ought to be considered when evaluating and selecting
a delivery method.
It will also assist government agencies in defining project requirements for a
successful delivery of project, especially on capital projects.
Also, in the improvement of knowledge in differentiating a project delivery
method, a project management method and a contract type or format.
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1.6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions form the basis of this study:
1. What are the types of project delivery method used in the construction
industry?
2. Which factor(s) influences the choice of a project delivery method?
3. How effectively does a project delivery method responds to client
objectives and project requirements?
4. Which delivery method(s) could be recommended to construction
proponent towards achieving their objectives?
5. Does the size (cost) of a project affects the choice of its delivery?
6. Are evaluations usually carried out on most projects before the selection
of its method of delivery?
7. Is there any relationship between cost, time, and quality in evaluating a
delivery method?
1.7 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
The following hypothesis shall be subjected to empirical evidence based on the
data collected
1. Ho: Time and Quality has no significant relationship in the evaluation
of a project delivery method.
H1: Time and Quality has a significant relationship in the evaluation of
a project delivery method.
2. Ho: Time and Cost has no significant relationship in the evaluation of a
project delivery method.
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H1: Time and Cost has a significant relationship in the evaluation of a
project delivery method.
3. Ho: Cost and Quality has no significant relationship in the evaluation of
a project delivery method.
H1: Cost and Quality has a significant relationship in the evaluation of
a project delivery method.