An investigation on the level of competition in procurement of architectural consultancy services and its relationship to project performance and innovation in Gauteng
Date
2011-10-04
Authors
Rugambwa, Didas
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Abstract
In the construction industry, procurement of consultants services plays a big role
in the project delivery process and therefore the selection process/procedure of
consultants is very crucial. In South Africa many projects budgets are drawn
based on the initial design sketches drafted by architects, hence clients are often
presented with a problem of how to secure the right consultant. The right
consultant is one who will exhaustively conceive and capture the brief thus
keeping the project in its original parameters of cost, among other things. This
study investigates the link between consultants service procurement method and
performance parameters of cost (total capital outlay) and scope change. It also
examines the current consultants service procurement system that is
predominant in the industry and its impact on innovation as well as in facilitating
new entrants. Through questionnaire survey oriented towards participants from
architectural service providers with hands-on project handling experience, the
perceptions of these consultants were examined and evaluated in relation to their
selection procedures. Their experience with regards to consultants services
procurement was evaluated and presented, in particular, the link between
consultants service procurement method and performance, assessment of the
current service procurement procedures and its impact in facilitating new
entrants. The results indicate that there was a strong link between consultants
service procurement method and performance. The results also reveal that the
current procedures of client relationship and networking, poses a big challenge to
new entrants and rebirth of new ideas as they are likely to favour only those that
are already established in the industry. The study recommends that further
research be done to incorporate other stakeholders such as property developers
and other clients. This would help assess their views/perception towards the idea
of subjecting consultants to some degree of competition based selection or
towards a bidding (request for proposals) approach.