CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background to the Study
Optimal use of
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is now generally considered to
be an essential requirement for achieving international best practice and
competitiveness and ensuring long term prosperity. Given the increasingly
global nature of construction activity, failure to invest in ICT will not only
result in an inability to compete on an international scale but will also place
firms at serious risk of losing their domestic market share to overseas
competitors more amenable to maximizing the benefits that ICT can confer. This
international threat is of serious concern to all participants in a Nigerian
construction industry insistent by a very high level of domestic competition
and resultant low profit margin. One of the factors to competitive advantage
borders on the extensive application of ICT. Accordingly, whilst relatively
slow on the uptake, the Nigerian construction industry is now experiencing
significant changes in terms of ICT utilization and development. The impact of
these changes, and concomitant changes in industry structure and procurement
practices, on the quantity surveying (QS) profession will continue to escalate.
As information flows increasingly become electronic QS computing facilities,
software and databases will need to develop in a compatible manner.
Compatibility with and the utilization of CAD systems is just the beginning. It
is inevitable that documentation and data will be increasingly automated to the
point where measurement and other technical processes will require minimal
human intervention.
In a study conducted by Musa et al. (2010) on 115 construction
industries that employed the use of information and communication technology in
Nigeria revealed that it helps the quality of services of the firm. But, with
all these benefits that ICT offers, quantity surveyors are not taking serious
action towards advanced adoption of ICT. In addition, clients have been
demanding for executing projects within budgeted cost and completion at
estimated time, likewise, firms are seeking for strategies and tools to improve
the quality of their services (Akintoye, 2001). Hence, information and
communication technology (ICT) is considered to be a sustainable technological
strategy used in the technological advanced nations to achieve these goals.
Ayeni (1989) however revealed that quantity surveying firms had been using ICT
for their services since 1980s but the usage is at the elementary stage which
involves only typing, printing, phone calls, using Microsoft office like word,
excel, powerpoint and the likes, no advancement into the usage of sophisticated
software as a result of their negative perception and fraudulent activities.
According to Musa et al. (2010) adoption of ICT is now close to two decades of
continuous use in work practices of the firms, yet its effects on service
delivery have not been empirically established.
Previous literature exists on the
introduction of computer, relevance of information technology to the industry.
Among others are Oladapo, (2006), Oyenuga (2007); most of which are about ten
years old. The gap identified is on the industry’s performance as the best of
manual operations still end in time and cost overrun and avoidable despites. It
is in light of these observations that this study attempts to impact of ICT application to Quantity Survey practice
among Consultancy Firms in Abuja, Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The
construction sub-sector of the Nigerian economy is characterized by distinctive
organizations, bodies and professionals. There is, therefore, a lot of data
that is exchanged among these different stakeholders. For instance, there are
professionals ranging from design team, consisting of quantity surveyors,
architects, civil and structural engineers, mechanical and electrical engineers
to those involved with implementation especially the contractor and the
sub-contractors. There is also the client for any given project as well as
statutory regulatory bodies that influence various aspects of any construction
project, such as sanitation and environment.
Therefore,
the presence and creation of an electronic building information system focused
on the cost data is, therefore, essential in facilitating inter-disciplinary
interactions within construction project organizations and the industry as a
whole. The databank would greatly facilitate smooth and open processes during
the construction process and access and sharing of the construction
information. One way could be starting at addressing the needs at the lowest
level of the construction supply chain that are tailored to specifically
address the needs of the Nigerian construction industry. There is also an increasing
volume of cost information that flows within a construction project’s
environment. Some of the information flows outside the project while other
information flows within the project itself.
Cost information
and cost data flow within project organizations and the construction industry
have to be integrated in such a manner that relevant cost data is captured in
order to address the increasing complexity of projects and client needs,
demands and expectations (Sommerville et al, 2012). In Nigeria, there is
increasing demand for real-time data and information that has to be created,
transferred or stored. This is important in managing the constantly fluctuating
construction contracts as well as the vulnerability of construction personnel
that is on the rise as far as data and information in projects is concerned.
The internet has
the potential of being a great source of data and information to the Quantity
Surveying firms in Nigeria. The QS firms can further exploit the internet
resources and infrastructure that is already in place in the exchange of data
and information pertinent to their day to day work. This study seeks to
investigate the impact of ICT application to
Quantity Survey practice among Consultancy Firms in Nigeria by using Abuja as a
case study.
1.3 Research Objectives
The main
objective of this study is to investigate the impact
of ICT application to Quantity Survey practice among Consultancy Firms in
Nigeria by using Abuja as a case study. Specifically, the objectives
are:
i)
To understand the
internet-based tools, resources and applications are the Quantity Surveyors in
Nigeria utilising in their consultancy work
ii)
To determine the online
activities the Quantity Surveyors engage in as part of their work
iii)
To study the potential
benefits that Quantity Surveyors can enjoy from the incorporation of
information and communication technology in their day to day work
1.4 Research
Questions
The following are
some of the questions which this study intends to answer:
i)
What are the
internet-based tools, resources and applications are the Quantity Surveyors in
Nigeria utilising in their consultancy work?
ii)
What are the online
activities the Quantity Surveyors engage in as part of their work?
iii)
What are the potential
benefits that Quantity Surveyors can enjoy from the incorporation of
information and communication technology in their day to day work?
1.5 Research
Hypotheses
The followings are the research hypotheses to
be tested in this study:
i)
There
is a significant relationship between the use of ICT by Quantity Surveyor and
customers patronage
ii)
There
is a significant correlation between the use of ICT by Quantity Surveyor and effective practice
1.6 Significance of the Study
This
research seeks to investigate the impact of ICT
application to Quantity Survey practice among Consultancy Firms in Abuja,
Nigeria. This would enable the construction industry engage all the cost
consultants in the construction industry on a real-time basis. In addition, it
will provide grounds upon which other applications and uses of the internet
would emerge, for example, the formation of cost databanks, construction
information silos and the creation of primary and secondary sources of
information.
The
study also seeks to encourage the exploration of technologies that run on the
internet that would facilitate the efficient running of projects, for example,
use of internet-enabled mobile devices namely tablets, smart-phones, mobile
phones and laptops. The use of these devices coupled with the emerging
Generation Y of the Quantity Surveyors who rely a lot on online interactions
could transform how the QS will carry out their work in Nigeria. The profession
ought to identify points where it will evolve with the emerging technological trends
especially the internet. The construction industry would also spur a wave of
innovation through the adoption of the internet by the Quantity Surveyors.
Potentially, QS packages and software suites can be run online by utilizing the
Cloud Technologies. This would in turn raise a breed of consultants who will
analyse the data and information and relay the conclusions/evaluations back to
the consultant Quantity Surveyors or institutions interested in the
information.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The
purpose of this study is to identify and assess the current levels of usage and
investment by professional firms in internet services. Despite there being a
large number of Quantity Surveyors registered in Nigeria, the research will
focus on those who are based in Abuja. This is because it will be easier to
access a wider pool of respondents over a given area due to their possible high
concentration.
1.8 Limitations of
the Study
It is
expected that some respondents, especially the registered Quantity Surveyors,
will not complete and return the survey questionnaires used in the study.
However, it is anticipated that firms with at least two Quantity Surveyors will
be more willing to fill the questionnaires than those with one, since the
questionnaires can be given to one of them. Time may be another limitation
considering the potential population of Quantity Surveyors, the administration
of the research study may experience inadequate time to satisfactorily conduct
the study.