The study drew on Service Quality Model (SERVQUAL) to evaluate the effect of ICT on the quality of services of Quantity Surveying Practicing firms in the Nigerian Construction Industry. The major objective was to determine the suitability of the Technological Innovation as a tool for improving the quality of the services of the firms in the country. Towards this end, relevant data were obtained through questionnaire survey conducted on a sample of forty-eight (48) architects, thirty-five (35) engineers (all clients' representatives) and thirty-two (32) contractors selected randomly from the lists of one-hundred and fifty-one (151) construction professionals and fifty-eight (58)contractors the firms had worked with during both pre and post adoption of ICT periods. Oral interview was also conducted on the respondents to complement the information obtained from the questionnaire survey. The SERVQUAL scores of the services of the firms prior to the adoption of the technological innovation was compared with the post adoption scores using Mann-Whitney U-Test at ninety-five percent (95%) confidence level. The results of the test revealed that the SERVQUAL scores of the services of the firm after the adoption of the technology were significantly greater than the SERVQUAL scores of their services prior to its adoption. Thus, the adoption of the technological innovation has enhanced the quality of the services of the firms in the Nigerian Construction Industry. The study concluded that ICT is a suitable tool for improving the quality of quantity surveying services in the country.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors affecting quantity surveyors’ competence with a view to reducing them to key components. Design/methodology/approach The research adopts a data reduction system using the factor analysis statistical technique. A structured questionnaire was administered among major stakeholders in the Nigerian construction industry. The respondents were asked to give ratings on a 5-point Likert scale on factors affecting the competence of quantity surveyors. Based on the identified 11 factor variables, factor analysis was used to explore and detect the underlying relationship among the identified variables. Important measures such as Bartlett’s test of sphericity, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling accuracy and measure of sampling adequacy were used to test the appropriateness of the factor extraction. Findings The data reduction results in three key factor components: organization structure and team development, industrial exposure and route of educational training. Practical implications The findings provide a considerable insight into the issue of factors affecting quantity surveyors’ competence and could have considerable implications on the training of quantity surveyors in Nigeria. Originality/value The paper provides information on major factors influencing the competence of quantity surveyors and the resulting implications on the training, development and practice of quantity surveying in Nigeria.

PurposeThis study examined factors influencing the organisational capabilities of the public sector for building information modelling (BIM) implementation in construction projects with a view to enhancing the performance of public sector projects.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a quantitative descriptive analysis that was based on primary data. In total, 198 valid questionnaires obtained from construction professionals within the public sector provided primary quantitative data for the assessment. The respondents provided the responses on the factors which were identified through an in-depth synthesis of literature relating to organisational capabilities of the public sector. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.FindingsThe findings established that the potential of the public sector to deploy BIM in construction projects is greatly influenced by varying degree of organisational capability attributes with bureaucratic culture (mean score, MS = 3.37), structural complexity (MS = 3.17), lack of skilled and trained staff (MS = 3.12), personnel stability (MS = 3.11), staff cooperation (MS = 3.09) and political constraint (MS = 3.07) ranked highest. Through factor analysis, these and other highly influential factors were grouped into eight components, namely management-related, policy-related, technical-related, attitude-related, work structure-related, work ethic-related, decision-related and feedback-related factors. This grouping reflects the various components of organisational capability attributes which the public sector needs to efficiently develop to benefit from project management paradigm introduced by BIM.Practical implicationsThis study provided information for improving specific capability attributes with respect to human and technical resources as well as other soft infrastructure to support BIM implementation on building projects by the public sector client. The study also serves as a guide for understanding BIM implementation by the public sector in similar socio-political and economic contexts.Originality/valueThis assessment indicates various degrees by which the organisational attributes of public sector have influenced the attributes' capability to implement BIM on construction projects. Thus, findings provide information on areas of improvement for better implementation of BIM by the public sector in project delivery.

Over the past months, the socioeconomic consequences of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic reverberated through and affected all segments of life. The construction industry is not left out. The severe impacts of COVID-19 have not only witnessed tragic human losses but have also caused colossal devastating implications for construction procurement and general contract condition. The study examined the dispute resolution methods adopted by contractors in Eastern Cape, South Africa, during the COVID-19 experience to determine their appropriateness and effectiveness. The study employed a snowballing, purposive, non-probability sampling technique with a mixed research design driven by respondents' participatory action. Twelve senior personnel were interviewed, while questionnaires were administered to 30 referred employees on the sites. XLSTAT statistical software and thematic analysis were used for the aggregated questionnaire and qualitative respondents' interviews in drawing inferences. The results revealed that an interest-based rather than a right-based approach are two sides of a coin that can make or mar the wheel of progress in arriving at an amicable agreement to contract terms in construction. The need for re-negotiation in billing, which is at variance with the various construction claim, cannot be over-emphasised. At the same time, the intuitive assertions of negotiation, mediation, and conciliation were used in resolving unforeseen delays, claims, and added costs due to disruptions of COVID-19. The study's main contribution lies in mastering and deploying appropriate dispute resolution methods in project execution. The study is of utmost importance in planning, restoring, and deriving optimal societal benefits from conflict management amidst the adverse effect of Covid -19 on any construction project. Keywords: Conciliation, Construction dispute, COVID-19; Mediation, Negotiation

This study examines the capability improvement measures of the public sector client for enhancing the implementation of building information modeling (BIM) in construction project delivery. The study adopted a quantitative descriptive analysis based on primary data obtained through a structured questionnaire. A total of 198 valid questionnaires obtained from construction professionals within public sector organizations in Lagos State, Nigeria, provided primary quantitative data for the assessment. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings indicated the measures to enhance the capacity of the public sector for BIM implementation including the following: team-based structure and recruitment of adequate number of staff (with mean score [MS] = 3.66), government support and involvement (MS = 3.64), government policies, adoption of process open to innovation, and investment in equipment and technology (MS = 3.60) had been considerably entrenched. However, measures that resulted in improved efficiency were limited to the following: reward system for performance (MS = 3.81), government policies, and education and training of staff (MS = 3.74), government support and involvement (MS = 3.73), and clear job description (MS = 3.71). Most of the measures with high level of impact were not necessarily those that are frequently used. On this basis, the public sector needs to differ from the status quo by adopting improvement measures that are appropriate for enhancing its capabilities for BIM in project delivery. The findings indicate implications that could enable the public sector to adjust and make necessary policies in a bid to improve BIM implementation in project delivery.