Al-Ghamdi, M (2000) The value of engineering design: a study of perceptions of the consulting engineer's contribution to building and civil engineering projects, and the marketing of consulting services. PhD thesis, University of Reading, UK.
Abstract
Poor perceptions of the value of the engineers' contribution to building designs by clients is one of the main challenges facing the consulting engineering profession. Several reports and papers have warned of the negative consequences of this problem for the future of the profession. However, no previous research has investigated its possible causes. This research fills some of the gaps in this area. The research study focuses on the influence of architects and the marketing efforts of engineering consultants on clients' perception of the value of the consulting engineers' contribution to building and civil engineering projects. The literature review reveals that engineers often complain that their engineering design work on building projects is undervalued. They also feel that clients value their engineering design work more on civil engineering projects than building projects. Engineers tend to blame architects for influencing clients' perceptions of the value of the engineers' contribution to building design, and sometimes blame themselves for not succeeding in marketing the value of their engineering design skills in building projects. The following hypotheses were tested statistically by means of three surveys sent to engineers and architects: consulting engineers feel that clients value their engineering design contribution more in a civil engineering project than in building projects; architects influence clients' perceptions of the value of engineering design in building projects; attitudes towards marketing in consulting engineering firms are not improving. The results indicated that there is little difference in engineers' perceptions of how clients value their contributions, between building and civil engineering projects. On the other hand it was found that clients' under-valuation of the contribution made to building projects by consulting engineers is due more to the engineers' poor marketing of their technical skills than to the influence of architects on the clients' views. It is recommended that the consulting engineering profession places more emphasis on marketing the benefits of their technical skills to clients.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | building design; civil engineering; marketing; skills; valuation; architects; civil engineer; client; engineering consultant; market |
| Index terms: | civil engineer, survey, engineering firm, literature review, consulting engineer, technical skill, marketing, architect, profession, engineering design, engineering consultant, engineer, building design |
| Subjects: | firms, professional development, design process, professional, data collection methods, profession, business, institututions, data analysis and analytics, architectural design |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Information Management, Design Practice, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
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