A Study of the Impact of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) on the Quality of Quantity Surveying Services in Nigeria

Abstract

The study drew on Service Quality Model (SERVQUAL) to evaluate the effect of ICT on the quality of services of Quantity Surveying Practicing firms in the Nigerian Construction Industry. The major objective was to determine the suitability of the Technological Innovation as a tool for improving the quality of the services of the firms in the country. Towards this end, relevant data were obtained through questionnaire survey conducted on a sample of forty-eight (48) architects, thirty-five (35) engineers (all clients' representatives) and thirty-two (32) contractors selected randomly from the lists of one-hundred and fifty-one (151) construction professionals and fifty-eight (58)contractors the firms had worked with during both pre and post adoption of ICT periods. Oral interview was also conducted on the respondents to complement the information obtained from the questionnaire survey. The SERVQUAL scores of the services of the firms prior to the adoption of the technological innovation was compared with the post adoption scores using Mann-Whitney U-Test at ninety-five percent (95%) confidence level. The results of the test revealed that the SERVQUAL scores of the services of the firm after the adoption of the technology were significantly greater than the SERVQUAL scores of their services prior to its adoption. Thus, the adoption of the technological innovation has enhanced the quality of the services of the firms in the Nigerian Construction Industry. The study concluded that ICT is a suitable tool for improving the quality of quantity surveying services in the country.

The Influence of Transformational Leadership Style on ICT Adoption in the Nigerian Construction Industry

“…For instance, the general operational processes of both construction contracting and consultancy firms in Nigeria are paper-based. This makes it difficult for firms to meet the demands of client primarily due to Poor ICT infrastructural facilities in the country to warrant technological innovations implementation (Musa et al, 2010). Additional explanation is size of firms.…”

Assessment of Quantity Surveying Firms' Process and Product Innovation Drive in Nigeria

“…Thus, Quantity Surveyors encourage the use and spread of MS Excel, Computer Aided Taking-off (CATO), CA Estimating, Auto Sketch, and Digitizers in construction-related activities in the construction industry of Nigeria. Musa et al (2010) posit that Quantity Surveyors proactively think of ways of trying their skills in very important software packages like Master Bill, WinQS, Computer Aided Taking off (CATO), Super Project, RIPAC among others. Quantity Surveying firms strive to be leaders in the construction industry, thereby aspiring beyond their current capability and resources.…”

“…It is widely recommended that the sure way to overcome these challenges is the adoption of innovative strategies (Terzungwe, 2013). This situation has changed in recent time as a result of the embracement of innovative concepts by most Quantity Surveying firms as reported by (Musa et al, 2010;Moohamad et al, 2014).…”

“…Hardie et al, (2005) examined the role of Quantity Surveyors in the generation of innovation, adoption, and diffusion in the Construction industry of Australia, and reported that Quantity Surveyors perceived themselves not to be blockers but promoters of innovation, and they are usually not team leaders but excellent team contributors and players. Musa et al (2010) evaluated the impact of information and communication technology on the quality of Quantity Surveying in Nigeria and revealed that ICT has been adopted in the Quantity Surveying firms. Moohamad et al 2014conducted an empirical assessment of the consultancy services innovation practices in the Nigerian construction industry and observed that they were adopters of the product/technological, process and business system innovation.…”

A Theoretical Model of Factors Influencing IT Adoption in Nigerian Construction Organizations

“…The contribution of construction outputs to sustainable economic growth and development of a country is highly significant [2]. The Nigerian construction industry is not an exception.…”