Ibironke, O T; Ekundayo, D and Awodele, O A (2011) A survey on the use and impact of information technology in quantity surveying service delivery in Nigeria. In: Egbu, C and Lou, E C W (eds.) Proceedings of 27th Annual ARCOM Conference, 5-7 September 2011, Bristol, UK.
Abstract
The construction industry has recently witnessed a paradigm shift from traditional paper-based method of service delivery to electronic information exchange using Information Technology (IT), at least in the western world like UK. It is now evident that the adoption of IT can enhance construction productivity and improve communications for effective decision-making and coordination among construction participants. The ability of the industry to avail itself of technology depends on the level of usage by construction participants including the Quantity Surveyor (QS) who plays a major role in the management of project success determinants, such as cost, time and quality. This research therefore evaluates the level of adoption of IT by QS in Nigeria and its impact in discharging their professional obligations to achieve improved service delivery. A review of the relevant literature using published sources was conducted to identify the current state and use of IT in the industry in various parts of the world. In order to assess the level of adoption of technology by QS in Nigeria and to evaluate its impact on their service delivery, data collected through questionnaires administered to practicing professionals were analysed and subsequently ranked using their mean item score (MIS) and the Kruskal Wallis H test. The research revealed that despite the average to high awareness of the importance of IT in improving service delivery and productivity, QS in Nigeria are still reluctant in using these technologies mainly due to the high initial cost of acquisition; lack of infrastructures to support its use and security concerns such as the susceptibility of IT system. It is concluded that the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors should act as a champion in raising the awareness of IT among its members and the Government should provide an enabling environment for its importation and usage.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | information technology; Nigeria; productivity; quantity surveyor; service delivery |
| Index terms: | determinant, construction industry, construction productivity, information technology, coordination, paradigm, decision-making, questionnaire, productivity, acquisition, survey, information exchange, Nigeria, quantity surveying, project success, surveying, service delivery |
| Subjects: | data science, health monitoring assessment and metrics, operations management, computing systems, risk assessment, profession, data collection methods, business, industry analysis, decision analysis, Geography, service delivery, project management theory and practice, management, education and knowledge transfer |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Roles and Professions, Risk Management, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Project Management, Geographical Context, Research Practice |
| 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