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EFFECT OF QUALITY CULTURE ON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF KWARA STATE)
Construction impacts the quality of life for building facilities and plays a major role in a nation's economy and development. Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act (2005) Section 17(4) basically sets out that construction work is an activity on structure that includes building work, civil engineering or engineering construction work. Furthermore, the end-products of construction works had been in the centre of economic development of a nation. According to Farooqui. Mashood and Aziz (2008) construction sector is globally considered to be a basic industry on which the development of the country depends. To a great extent, the growth of a country and its development status is generally determined by the quality of its infrastructures and construction projects.
Construction project development involves numerous parties, various processes, different phases and stages of work and a great deal of input from both the public and private sectors, with the major aim being to bring the project to a successful conclusion (Takim and Akintoye, 2002). Hence, the success of any construction project can be expressed in terms of performance. Blismas, Slier and Thorpe (1999) reckon that project performance is the act of fulfilling the project goals at the inception by the client and the project team in terms of the budget, duration, and quality and client satisfaction. According to Egemen and Mohamed (2006), performance evaluation in construction generally focuses on a limited number of performance elements related to the product, which are completing the project on time, within budget and with the required quality.
According to Jackson (2004), quality is contained in the tripod of construction management; it does not only impact appearance and durability but also the performance of a project. In today's construction climate, public sector owners are finding themselves under increasing pressure to improve project performance, complete projects faster, and reduce the cost of administering their
construction programs.
However, Abdul-Rahman, Wang and Yap (2010) mentioned that clients and customers, both from the public and private sectors, nowadays place more emphasis on the quality of products rather than the cost and time which was the major concern in the past. In terms of quality in construction, Arditi and Gunaydin (1997) opined that 'high quality building project depends a great deal on factors such as the design being easily understandable and applicable, conformity of design with specifications, economics of construction, ease of operation ,ease of maintenance and energy efficiency.
1.2 RESEARCH AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study is to assess the quality culture on building construction works in Kwara State, Nigeria. To accomplish this aim, a number of research objectives have been established:
These include:
1. To assess the perception of quality in construction industry in Nigeria
2. To evaluate the factors affecting the implementation of quality culture in construction works in Nigeria
3. To examine the factors affecting the maintenance of quality culture in construction works in Nigeria
4. To evaluate the constraints encountered in the implementation of quality culture in construction works in Nigeria.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What is the perception of quality on building construction industry in Nigeria?
2. What are the factors affecting the implementation of quality culture on building construction works in Nigeria?
3. What are the factors affecting the maintenance of quality culture on building construction works in Nigeria?
4. What are the constraints encountered in the implementation of quality culture on building construction works in Nigeria?
1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
This study intends to test the hypothesis that:
1. There is no significant difference between the level of quality culture in public and private organizations in Nigeria.
2. There is no significant difference between the perception of quality in public and private organizations in Nigeria.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
There has been little research into quality culture. The intention of this study is to provide information on quality culture in construction industries in Kwara state, Nigeria. The findings of this study amongst other things will highlight the level of quality culture in construction industries in Kwara state. It is the conviction of the researcher that this study will complement existing works and add to the growing literature on the subject matter of quality culture. It is also hoped that the study would provide a springboard on which further studies could be conducted.
1.6 DELIMITATION AND SCOPE OF STUDY
In pursuing this research the focus of attention is on the level of quality culture in construction and the construction project itself. The construction project is thus the unit of analysis. Works and the research covers small, medium and large scale contracting, client and consulting organizations involved in civil engineering and building projects, as well as the different types of facilities (e.g. commercial or educational). The targeted respondents in these organizations include the project manager, construction manager, architect, engineers, quantity surveyors and other people who have a stake in or can influence the construction project.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Quality: In the construction industry, quality can be defined as meeting the requirements of the designer, constructor and regulatory agencies as well as the owner (Arditi and Gunaydin, 1997).
Quality culture: (International practical seminar Quality Culture Development, 2010) defines quality culture as an organizational value system that results in an environment that is conducive to the establishment and continual improvement of quality.
Project performance: Project performance is a measure of the outcome of a project that is the level to which desired project objectives are achieved (Idoro, 2008).
Total Quality Management: Is a management philosophy, a paradigm, a continuous improvement approach to doing business through a new management model (PHCC, 1996).
