Explaining the latent shortcomings in the achievement of value for money within the Ghanaian construction industry.

No Thumbnail Available
Date
November 2019.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The non-achievement of projects of best value remains a perennial problem within the Ghanaian construction industry. This study adds to knowledge by investigating the methods used in assessing value for money in public construction projects, identifying the latent shortcomings in the achievement of value for money in public construction projects and proposing strategies for addressing the identified shortcomings. From a comprehensive literature review, six (6) methods of assessing value for money, eighteen (18) variables responsible for the non-achievement of value for money and thirteen (13) potential strategies were identified. By administering questionnaires through purposive and snowballing sampling, respondents were made to rate their perceptions of the identified variables. A total of seventy-six (76) questionnaires were administered and fifty-seven (57) responses were retrieved from procurement practitioners involved in public project delivery. Descriptive statistics was used in analysing the methods of assessing value for money. A novelty finding was that the use of these methods in public construction projects was generally low. Factor analysis established the variables measuring aspects of the same underlying dimensions. A total of six (6) components were identified and explained in terms of external factors; institutional culture and policy constraints; management related factors; technical and decision-making factors; human-related factors and accountability and transparency constraints. Relative importance index was used in analysing the strategies to addressing the shortcomings. The top four (4) important strategies were: effective monitoring and evaluation, effective risk management, detailed specifications and accurate assessment of the cost of project. The limitation of this research is the small sample size and methodology used which requires further survey in order to generalize the findings. The present findings however would enlighten procurement practitioners on better ways of delivering public construction projects to help achieve value for money. It is recommended that capacity building on value for money assessment is encouraged, comprehensive project planning is done prior to the initiation of public projects’ and effective monitoring and evaluation is carried out.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Construction Technology and Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Award Degree of Master of Science in Construction Management.
Keywords
Value for Money Assessment, Shortcomings, Strategies
Citation