Comparing levels of use of project plans and performance of traditional contract and design‐build construction projects in Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose

The prominent role of traditional contract and design‐build methods in the procurement of projects and the importance of planning in the success of the projects prompt this study. The study evaluates the levels of use of project documents and their influence on the outcome of projects procured by the two methods. The purpose of this paper is to assist stakeholders in comparing the documents prepared and the performance of projects procured by traditional contract and design‐build methods.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a questionnaire survey approach to achieve its purpose. A field survey of 84 projects made up of 42 traditional contract projects and 42 design‐build projects selected by purposive sampling was conducted. Three categories of variables namely: procurement method, project planning and project outcome were used. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaires and analysed to derive and compare the levels of use of selected project plans, levels of project inception, design, tendering, construction and overall planning in projects procured by traditional contract and design‐build methods using percentage, mean and t‐test.

Findings

The results reveal that the levels of project stage and overall planning in projects procured by the two methods investigated are the same. However, the levels of use of specific plans and project outcome in the two categories of projects are significantly different. The study considers the difference in the levels of use of project plans to be responsible for the lower delivery time and cost of projects procured by traditional contract method and higher quality standards in projects procured by design‐build method.

Originality/value

The paper has revealed the level of efforts put into the planning of projects procured by traditional contract and design‐build methods and their influence on the performance of the projects. The results will make project stakeholders aware of how to improve their efforts, thereby improving the outcome of the projects.

Citation

Idoro, G. (2012), "Comparing levels of use of project plans and performance of traditional contract and design‐build construction projects in Nigeria", Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. 10 No. 1, pp. 7-33. https://doi.org/10.1108/17260531211211863