Swarnadhipathi, K and Boyd, D (2007) An investigation of construction project performance in Botswana using time predictability. In: Boyd, D (ed.) Proceedings of 23rd Annual ARCOM Conference, 3-5 September 2007, Belfast, UK.
Abstract
This paper develops an understanding about how construction project performance is achieved in Botswana in relation to time predictability. This aspect has increased in importance in Botswana as the construction industry has experienced changes since 2001 from a slump in the economy and from the implementation of policies to increase the participation of local contractors in the industry. The Botswana construction environment is characterized by projects being managed as separate entities within companies because of the country scale and the spread of work. This makes the project process more complex and gives difficulties in delivery. The research used a qualitative research method with an interpretivist approach using semi-structured in-depth interviews with 3 managers in 4 medium scale Botswana construction companies. The findings confirmed the applicability of known factors in delays in project deliverability and identified some Botswana specific factors such as multi-cultural issues, government influence, and geographical supply problems. It was also determined that companies develop strategies to counteract some of these real problems to improve project performance. This study will give an insight into issues related to project management in a developing country.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Botswana; contractor performance; construction project performance; project deliverability; time |
| Index terms: | project management, construction industry, implementation, local contractor, project performance, investigation, construction project, contractor performance, construction company, Botswana, qualitative research method, strategy, developing country, interview, manager |
| Subjects: | development economics, contract management, project management theory and practice, production management, Geography, management, industry analysis, practitioner, organization, research design and methodology, data collection methods, contractual arrangements |
| Topics: | International Construction, Contract Administration, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Project Management, Business Strategy, 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