Wong, C H; Holt, G D and Harris, P T (2000) UK civil engineering practitioners' perceptions of contractor prequalification criteria. In: Akintoye, A (ed.) Proceedings of 16th Annual ARCOM Conference, 6-8 September 2000, Glasgow, UK.
Abstract
The issue of contractor prequalification has achieved a central focus within the mainstream of construction management research. It is recognised that an effective selection process contributes significantly to a client entering into contract with a 'good' contractor. This paper examines one aspect of a research programme performing in-depth analysis of contractor selection criteria, specifically, with respect to civil engineering (CE) works. A structured questionnaire survey conducted in the UK has accrued substantial data relating to practitioners' perceptions of prequalification criteria; and significant differences are discovered among such cognition (e.g. regarding levels of importance assigned to these criteria implicitly or otherwise). Findings show that most CE clients view contractor financial stability as being one of the most important attributes to be satisfied. The research findings offer useful benchmarks in striving to streamline current prequalification practices. The implications of the research are assessed in detail. Finally, the paper explores the possibility that any new prequalification paradigm should be viewed as a process for establishing a 'reciprocal relationship'. That is, contractors' abilities (attributes) should meet clients' expectations thereby contributing to less adversarial (client / contractor) business interaction. This is of course, perfectly in tune with the aspirations of the industry's new way of thinking and reflects the ideals of Latham and Egan (et al).
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | prequalification; client; civil engineering; statistical analysis |
| Index terms: | Latham, management research, contractor selection, programme, statistical analysis, survey, stability, questionnaire, practitioner, cognition, paradigm, interaction |
| Subjects: | structural engineering, education and knowledge transfer, tendering, industry policy reports, project controls, cognitive psychology, behavioral psychology, data collection methods, research design and methodology, practitioner, data science |
| Topics: | Time Control, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Governance, Procurement, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here