Browsing by Author "Govender, Neil"

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Determinants of Professional Service Output Quality in the South African Construction Industry
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Govender, Neil; Laryea, Samuel; Watermeyer, Ron
The debate regarding the relationship between fees and the quality of professional services in the construction industry has persisted since the 1980s. In the South African context, members of professional industry bodies have strongly suggested that the declining quality of professional service outputs (PSOs) in the construction industry is due to low fees. While various studies in the construction literature have asserted that low or “discounted” fees are one of the main factors influencing the quality of PSOs, other studies have rejected this assertion. However, a comprehensive investigation into the major built environment professions, aimed at identifying and evaluating various factors influencing PSO quality, as well as understanding how and to what extent quality is specifically influenced by fees, is notably absent from the construction literature. To address this gap, a three-stage research design was employed. This design included an industry-wide survey with 604 participants, a survey of nine industry experts averaging 38 years of experience, and case studies conducted with seven built environment consulting companies. The data analysis involved a combination of content analysis, descriptive analysis, and thematic analysis. The study revealed nuances in the key factors influencing PSO quality across various built environment professions. While fees were identified as a key factor influencing PSO quality, other key factors, such as the time required to produce PSOs, experience, available information, and project briefs, were also identified. This highlights the need for project stakeholders to effectively manage professional fees in conjunction with these other key factors to ensure the quality of PSOs is not diminished. The findings of this study provide both clients and professionals with the knowledge to navigate the complex interplay between fees and PSO quality, ultimately fostering more successful and efficient projects.
An investigation into the management of successful emerging general building and civil engineering contractors in Gauteng
(2017) Govender, Neil
The construction industry in South Africa has an array of challenges. These challenges make it difficult for emerging contractors to establish and maintain successful companies. The purpose of this report is to establish why there are so few successful emerging contractors in the construction industry. In this study, the success of an emerging contracting company was judged by the survival of that company for a minimum period of five years and an improvement in the company’s CIDB grade by at least three levels during its existence. Structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 10 successful emerging contractors in Gauteng. The study found that technical capacity is one of the components of successful emerging contracting companies. It also found that technical capacity, inconsistent work opportunities and financial constraints are challenges that affect contractors when trying to increase their CIDB grade. The successful emerging contractors in the study utilised various strategies to overcome challenges in the industry, however, these strategies were flexible for changing circumstances and new opportunities.
Perceptions of tender document quality and its impact on construction estimates
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024-07) Nezambe, Bruce; Laryea, Samuel; Govender, Neil; Laryea, Samuel; Li, Baizhan; Essah, Emmanuel Adu; Mensah, Sarfo; Liu, Hong; Yao, Runming
Construction experts have noted the persistent concern about the quality of tender documents and its impact on the construction sector. Poor specification writing continues to be a weak link in the information chain that degrades the quality of tender documents and causes disputes, particularly in a competitive market where construction professionals strictly interpret the documents to prepare a competitive bid. The impact of tender document quality on the accuracy of project estimates is assessed to determine the determinants of good tender-quality documents. Additionally, interventions that can be implemented to improve tender document quality and the implications of poor tender document quality were also analyzed. Qualitative data was collected from construction professionals using an interview. Data was analyzed by Atlas-ti using thematic analysis where six key themes were extracted. The study concluded that poor quality tender documents compromise the accuracy of project estimates and delivery of projects within the South African construction industry. The consequences of poor tender document quality included reduced project profitability, incomplete projects, project termination due to funding issues, misunderstanding of boundaries, misalignment of the programme, increased costs and a negative impact on construction estimates.