Examination of relationships between Egan's key drivers of change and mechanical and electrical contractors' profits

The construction industry had been shown to be under-achieving in many respects and in need of a substantial review of systems, methods and practices. Egan's 'Rethinking Construction' (1998) highlighted the problems and proposed the way forward for the industry. This research investigated, via a postal questionnaire, Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) contractors' attitudes and opinions regarding many of Egan's proposals. The research also looked at the implementation of Egan's recommendations within the M&E sector, and analysed relationships with M&E contractors' profits. There was no suggestion of a direct cause and effect relationship between a positive attitude towards or implementation of Egan's proposals, and an increase in profits; and this research did not examine changes over time in attitudes or profits. The work was a snapshot survey with some interesting results. In some cases, it appeared that the more profitable firms were less likely to be positive towards Egan's recommendations. There was generally a positive response to Egan's report with the M&E sector accepting and using many of the techniques outlined. However, familiar construction industry traits of withholding payment, tender disparity, contract dispute, unequal standing, and poor site facilities were discovered within the M&E sector.