Abstract:
Performance of participants on a contract is important for its successful delivery. It is
an indication of competency, measure of productivity and quality levels of the project.
Lack of contractors’ commitment is observed to be one of the major barriers in
effective execution of contracts and consequent successful project delivery. This
investigation was aimed at to explore how contractor commitment challenges can be
resolved to improve their performance in the project delivery. A questionnaire survey
was conducted among 88 stakeholders that include clients, architects, contractors,
quantity surveyors, structural engineers and project managers. Stratified random
sampling technique was used for the selection of respondents and the survey was
administered through post and e-mail. The contractor commitment challenge variables
were evaluated by using Likert scale. The inter-linkage among the variables was
established based on literature findings and relevant statistical tests. Followed by
System Dynamics (SD) principle based on System thinking approach, was adopted to
extract the causal feedback mechanisms that cause contractor commitment challenges
and to evolve plausible policy interventions to resolve the challenges. Findings suggest
that lack of experience, skill, inadequate supervision, and lack of control over the
subcontractors leads to contractor’s inefficiency. Poor planning and scheduling, poor
professional management, poor execution of projects, ineffective/outdated equipment,
and inefficiency of labour force result in poor quality of work and delay. In addition,
design and documentation challenges disrupt the contractors’ schedule. These hinder
contractor commitment. However, four policy/strategic interventions were evolved
based on dynamic hypotheses: they are the causal feedback relationships among (1)
contractor efficiency and capacity building; (2) professional management; (3)
construction methods; and (4) involvement of the contractor and client in the design
process. These would enable the contractors to meet their commitment and overcome
their challenges and improve their efficiency in project delivery.
