REGENERATIVE MECHANISMS TO RESOLVE CONTRACTOR COMMITMENT CHALLENGES IN PROJECT DELIVERY

Abstract

Performance of participants on a contract is important for its successful delivery. It is an indication of competency, measure of productivity and quality levels of the project. Lack of contractors’ commitment is observed to be one of the major barriers in effective execution of contracts and consequent successful project delivery. This investigation was aimed at to explore how contractor commitment challenges can be resolved to improve their performance in the project delivery. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 88 stakeholders that include clients, architects, contractors, quantity surveyors, structural engineers and project managers. Stratified random sampling technique was used for the selection of respondents and the survey was administered through post and e-mail. The contractor commitment challenge variables were evaluated by using Likert scale. The inter-linkage among the variables was established based on literature findings and relevant statistical tests. Followed by System Dynamics (SD) principle based on System thinking approach, was adopted to extract the causal feedback mechanisms that cause contractor commitment challenges and to evolve plausible policy interventions to resolve the challenges. Findings suggest that lack of experience, skill, inadequate supervision, and lack of control over the subcontractors leads to contractor’s inefficiency. Poor planning and scheduling, poor professional management, poor execution of projects, ineffective/outdated equipment, and inefficiency of labour force result in poor quality of work and delay. In addition, design and documentation challenges disrupt the contractors’ schedule. These hinder contractor commitment. However, four policy/strategic interventions were evolved based on dynamic hypotheses: they are the causal feedback relationships among (1) contractor efficiency and capacity building; (2) professional management; (3) construction methods; and (4) involvement of the contractor and client in the design process. These would enable the contractors to meet their commitment and overcome their challenges and improve their efficiency in project delivery.