14 research outputs found
The Need for Technical Auditing in the Zambian Construction Industry
No full textThe scale of corruption is magnified by the size and scope of the construction sector,
estimated globally at US$3,200 billion per year (Transparency International, 2005). As
economic crimes such as fraud, bid-rigging, bribery, collu~ion, coercion and extortion
have grown worldwide, so has the fight against them taken centre stage. The
construction industry being a multi-billion dollar complex industry makes it a suitable
breeding ground for these economic crimes that have remained an impediment to
development. To uphold the high ethical standards required in the industry,
stakeholders need to introduce and facilitate proactive strategies for the prevention of
economic crimes. One such strategy is the introduction of regulatory technical auditing
on construction projects. Technical auditing is currently not contractually recognized
in any form of contract used in the Zambian construction industry.
The aim of the research was to develop a technical audit model to be used in the
auditing of construction projects in Zambia to lower construction costs and tackle
unethical practices in the industry. The objectives of the study were to investigate the
nature and form of economic crimes in the Zambian construction industry and
establish whether existing institutions had the capacity to expose and prevent such
criminal activities. The study further examined the benefits of technical auditing, and
whether technical audits were the answer to reducing economic crimes in Zambia's
construction industry. The research also investigated whether whistle blowing systems,
contractor blacklisting and deregistration of consultants from their professional bodies
were adequate deterrents of corrupt practices.
To investigate the unethical practices in the construction industry cited in literature, the
data collection techniques included literature review, structured interviews,
questionnaire surveys and case studies. A best practice technical audit model was
developed and validated by industry stakeholders.The study established that introduction of pro-active technical auditing, through the
appointment of technical auditors and incorporation of audits at planning stages of
projects, would be an effective measure in uncovering and preventing or minimizing
unethical practices in construction. It was further established that the highest ranked
benefit of technical auditing was client confidence. Increased client confidence would
ensure more investment, ultimately increasing the country's economic activity in the
sector.
It is expected that information brought out in this study may be useful in raising
awareness of economic crimes, development of prevention strategies and assist in
developing necessary policies and guidelines for the introduction of regulatory
technical auditing of construction projects in Zambia, and elsewhere.
The study, though, had some limitations that need to be considered when interpreting
the reported results. Limitations such as the scarcity of literature on technical auditing
in Zambia, the large geographical coverage of Zambia, which was the study area, nonresponse
from the supplier sector and the absence of an internationally accepted
definition of economic crime could be cited as weakness in the study. Varying
interpretations by respondents could probably have had an influence on the results
reported in the paper. However, some of the identified limitations could be addressed
through further studies
Analysis of unit rates for Roadworks in Zambia incorporating neutral network prediction and first principles estimating
No full textRoad transport is an important sector of economic activity, especially in developing countries, where it plays an essential role in marketing agricultural products and providing access to health, education and agricultural inputs and extension services.
Zambia as a land locked country has been working hard to become “land linked”. The country has the potential of attracting more transit traffic and becoming a regional distribution centre for all kinds of goods and commodities. The Zambian road network is one of the country’s largest public sector assets. It is therefore essential that this vital asset is managed efficiently and effectively, invariably within a constrained budgetary situation, in support of socio‐economic growth and the development of the country. It is perceived by stakeholders that Zambia does not always get value for money in road infrastructure delivery. Industry regulators and public institutions have indicated that there was a notable trend in varying costs of construction from project to project and from one public institution to another, that it had become increasingly difficult to ascertain the true cost of projects and thereby unable to guarantee value for money. The research aimed at developing a unit cost estimation model (UCEM) for roadworks incorporating neural network (NN) to provide a standardised procedure of pricing road activities in Zambia and help understand prevailing market rates in the Zambian road sector (ZRS). The research involved establishing the base rates and determining the economic strata to form the unit rates used in the model. The base rates of the 854 pay
items from the Southern Africa Transport and Communications Commission (SATCC) Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Works used in the ZRS were calculated from first principles. The economic strata involved establishing the cost factors that affect construction unit rates (CUR) in the ZRS. From reviewed literature, forty five (45) cost factors were identified. Expert opinion reduced the factors to thirty one (31). The expert opinion was obtained through the Delphi technique and Pareto analysis was used to further analyse the factors and reduce them to twenty five (25). Further information on the 25 factors was obtained through questionnaire survey. Using factor analysis the 25 factors were further reduced to eight (8). The established 8 factors namely: contractor capacity; project location; period of honouring payments; level of design; cost escalation; materials availability; country corruption profile; and political environment were identified as those that impact unit costs in the ZRS. The 8 factors were then v analysed using NN to determine the proportionate breakdown of the cost factors in a given unit rate. The UCEM incorporated quantitative base unit rates and quantified qualitative economic strata to establish the prevailing rate. The UCEM was validated using real system measurements from three (3) SADC countries and five (5) local road projects. The value of the study is to provide a standardised procedure of pricing road activities to ensure uniformity in public and private procurement practice in the ZRS. The UCEM would assist those involved with roads project estimating to calculate the Engineers’ estimate with a fairly high level of accuracy. Finally, it is hoped that the model would provide a generic acceptable rate analysis system that can be used as a basis to compare against future projects. Key words: construction unit rates, neural networks, cost factors, unit cost estimation model, Zambian road sector
The need for technical auditing in the Zambian construction Industry
No full textThe scale of corruption is magnified by the size and scope of the construction sector,
estimated globally at US$3,200 billion per year (Transparency International, 2005). As
economic crimes such as fraud, bid-rigging, bribery, collusion, coercion and extortion
have grown worldwide, so has the fight against them taken centre stage. The
construction industry being a multi-billion dollar complex industry makes it a suitable
breeding ground for these economic crimes that have remained an impediment to
development. To uphold the high ethical standards required in the industry,
stakeholders need to introduce and facilitate proactive strategies for the prevention of
economic crimes. One such strategy is the introduction of regulatory technical auditing
on construction projects. Technical auditing is currently not contractually recognized
in any form of contract used in the Zambian construction industry.
The aim of the research was to develop a technical audit model to be used in the
auditing of construction projects in Zambia to lower construction costs and tackle
unethical practices in the industry. The objectives of the study were to investigate the
nature and form of economic crimes in the Zambian construction industry and
establish whether existing institutions had the capacity to expose and prevent such
criminal activities. The study further examined the benefits of technical auditing, and
whether technical audits were the answer to reducing economic crimes in Zambia's
construction industry. The research also investigated whether whistle blowing systems,
contractor blacklisting and deregistration of consultants from their professional bodies
were adequate deterrents of corrupt practices.
To investigate the unethical practices in the construction industry cited in literature, the
data collection techniques included literature review, structured interviews,
questionnaire surveys and case studies. A best practice technical audit model was
developed and validated by industry stakeholders.
The study established that introduction of pro-active technical auditing, through the
appointment of technical auditors and incorporation of audits at planning stages of
projects, would be an effective measure in uncovering and preventing or minimizing
unethical practices in construction. It was further established that the highest ranked
benefit of technical auditing was client confidence. Increased client confidence would
ensure more investment, ultimately increasing the country's economic activity in the
sector.
It is expected that information brought out in this study may be useful in raising
awareness of economic crimes, development of prevention strategies and assist in
developing necessary policies and guidelines for the introduction of regulatory
technical auditing of construction projects in Zambia, and elsewhere.
The study, though, had some limitations that need to be considered when interpreting
the reported results. Limitations such as the scarcity of literature on technical auditing
in Zambia, the large geographical coverage of Zambia, which was the study area, nonresponse from the supplier sector and the absence of an internationally accepted
definition of economic crime could be cited as weakness in the study. Varying
interpretations by respondents could probably have had an influence on the results
reported in the paper. However, some of the identified limitations could be addressed
through further studies
Development of a public road works contract management framework for the Zambian construction industry
No full textIt is critical that the funds allocated towards public road infrastructure are utilized prudently to achieve value for money whilst meeting project objectives. Therefore, contracts which facilitate the attainment of significant value are utilized. However, these contracts are seldom reviewed. Furthermore, ineffective Contract Management is a frequent occurrence in Zambia. In view of the foregoing, the aim of this study was to develop a Public Road Contract Management framework for the Zambian Construction Industry (ZCI). The study adopted a sequential exploratory research design to identify and determine the associated challenges and critical success factors (CSFs), respectively, throughout the Contract Management cycle in the ZCI. This was achieved by ranking the challenges and CSFs based on the data collected through questionnaire surveys from 92 respondents. The major challenges in each phase of the cycle viz. Initiation, Planning/Procurement, Implementation/Administration, Monitoring & Control and Closure were that viability of strategic plans is affected by political regime changes, failure to allocate the contract with the required budget, lengthy payment processes, delay in payments for satisfactory performance and lack of reviews to document lessons learnt and best practices, respectively. The top CSFs in each phase were preparation of comprehensive feasibility studies; allocating the contract with the required budget; adequate funding during implementation; monitoring being carried out by qualified, competent, and experienced personnel; and enhanced record keeping, respectively. Statistical analysis of the data using the Spearman correlation coefficient showed that there was a strong positive relation between Contract Administration/ Implementation, and Monitoring and Control. The developed framework is expected to facilitate timely completion of roadworks that are executed to the desired quality at the budgeted cost and thereby achieve successful Public Road Works Contract Management
Quality Management In Ready-Mix Concrete Production In Zambia
No full textThe construction industry, a significant contributor to global economies, is projected to yield substantial economic output by 2030 of around $135 trillion. Central to construction is concrete, a widely used material. Ready-mix concrete (RMC), a specialised form of concrete, is gaining prominence due to its rapid setting and superior quality. In Zambia, the increasing demand for RMC highlights the need for stringent quality management to hedge potential structural risks. This study aimed to determine the quality management in ready-mix concrete production in Zambia. Employing a parallel convergent mixed-methods research design to achieve the objectives, qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews and desk study and quantitative data was gathered through a structured questionnaire and an observation checklist. The findings of the study reveal that while guidelines exist, adherence varies. Regulatory bodies for standards, engineering and construction play pivotal roles in overseeing RMC quality. However, their execution faces inconsistencies and challenges due to limited resources and a lack of sense of responsibility. Quality control practices were investigated unveiling variations in forward, immediate, and retrospective control phases. Notable trends in proper storage and equipment calibration showed a commitment to precision. Immediate control practices, encompassing sampling and non-compliance management, demonstrated both positive aspects and areas for improvement. Retrospective control showed commitment to comprehensive strength testing and minimal towards split cylinder testing and on-site slump evaluation. In the realm of quality assurance (QA), RMC facilities show substantial adherence to documented QA standard operating procedures and thorough raw material inspections. However, deficiencies in batching and mixing practices and limited adoption of modern weighing systems require improvement. The study recommends creating an industry association for collaboration, enhancing standardised practices, introducing third-party quality audits, and proposing compulsory RMC standards to boost progress in the Zambian RMC industry.
Key Words: Quality Management, Ready Mix Concrete, Observation, Desk Study, Zambia
Factors Affecting the Main Contractor-Subcontractor Relationship in the Zambian Construction Industry
No full textIn recent years there has been a substantial number of projects conducted in the Zambian construction industry. Due to the magnitude and complexity of many of these projects, contractors have resorted to subcontracting to share responsibilities and mitigate project risks. The Zambian government has also invigorated the practice of subcontracting in the construction industry as it plays an imperative role in increasing economy viability and development of local contractors. Ministerial Statement on July 25, 2012 directed RDA to ensure minimum of 20 percent sub-contracting on all major road contracts to Zambian-Owned Companies. Instead of improving project success, subcontracting can act as a catalyst for poor project outcomes. Though there are many reasons that contribute to problems from subcontracting, a strained relationship between main contractors and subcontractors can be seen as a notorious contributor to poor project outcome. The study aimed at investigating the relationship between main contractors and subcontractors in Zambia, establish factors leading to interface problems and those factor that can help improve this relationship. Questionnaire survey was adopted in order to collect data and investigate the relationship. A total of 80 questionnaires were distributed. The questionnaires were distributed by hand and via email. Out of the targeted 80 respondents 56 responded, giving a response rate of 70 percent. The study established that the relationship between main contractors and subcontractors in Zambia needed to improve, as it was not in an effective state. Interface problems were caused by payment issues, poor communication, unexpected price escalations and poor construction work. In order to address interface problems, the study found that there was need for better communication between the parties, timely payments and subcontractors’ access to labour and machinery
Construction site layout planning practices in inner-city building projects: space requirement variables, classification and relationship
No full textABSTRACTAn inner-city building construction site for vacant land development or redevelopment of existing property is a site surrounded by buildings, occupants, and busy street(s); its space is the most important but limited resource that needs wisely planned and professionally used. The study aimed to assess the construction site layout planning (CSLP) practice and the classification of space requirement variables for inner-city building sites. Thus, the study adopted a triangulated study approach and the data was collected through a sequential mixed method that includes case studies: semi-structured interviews, document evaluation, and site visits observation followed by a two-round Delphi survey. The study has identified the space requirement variables, classification, and relationship for CSLP of inner-city sites; classified under three categories: Micro-space (four), Macro-space (18), and Paths (five); and have significant to strong associations with each other. The current practice shows the CSLP is overlooked or fragmented which causes a congested site condition. So, the provided insight on the strong relationship between space requirements will be a basis for shifting from the temporary-facility-centered planning methods towards an integrated CSLP approach to overcome contractors’ problems in the continued redevelopment demand of the inner city
A Skills Measurement Framework for the Construction Industry: A Case of Lusaka Province
No full textConstruction is characterised as being labour intensive and thus the continuous skills development will always be a matter of concern. The cyclic nature of the construction industry gives rise to skills mismatches which cause fluctuations in skills demand and supply. Investigating labour market conditions to assess skills demand and supply cycle of labour is a difficult task because of the scarcity or unavailability of aggregated local labour market information on the construction industry. This study investigated the issue of skills mismatches and developed a skills measurement framework to address it. The research design employed a mixed method approach to include both quantitative and qualitative data. A total of 162 firms consisting of 59 contractors,
80 consultants, 23 higher education institutions and 10 government institutions and local authorities in Lusaka Province whose core of business was inclined towards construction and development of transportation infrastructure were identified and used as the sample frame. Stratified random sampling was used to select respondents in the sample size. The method employed for data collection was the distribution of fifty (50) structured questionnaires and the conducting of three (03) semi- structured interviews with the aid of an interview guide. Quantitative data from the questionnaires was analysed using statistical software and qualitative analysis from interviews was analysed using content analysis. The most influential factors of supply and demand were; defined career paths, education and training requirements, salary scale and technological progression. Results revealed that the type of mismatches that existed were a skills gap and skills shortage. They revealed a shortage of Engineers and Construction Supervisors. Skills gaps were identified in the preparation of design specifications, estimation of project costs and preparing detailed cost plans, preparing construction method statements and technical specifications, as well technical and financial reporting. A sequential five-stage skills measurement framework structure was designed that investigated important aspects for skills development which are responsive to industry needs. The stages yield outputs which identify factors influencing skills demand and supply and skill competency requirements in construction, and assess the ability of the workforce meet the required skills competencies
An Integrated Green Building Assessment Tool for Low-Cost Housing Development in Zambia
No full textGreen building rating tools developed to assess the impact of buildings on the environment may not have all the appropriate methods and criteria for different environmental, economic, social and cultural conditions in the world. Assessment tools should be developed to meet minimum green building standards and aspirations. The challenge in developing countries like Zambia is that there is limited access to green building rating tools and a lack of technology and resources to have local tools. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to select methods and criteria for assessing green low-cost housing in Zambia from literature review and interviews with building practitioners. The 11th Sustainable Development Goal was part of literature review and some strategies were adopted as part of the criteria for green building assessment. A sequential mixed-method design was used to collect and analyze data through interviews and an online AHP evaluation of preferred criteria and methods. The results from the study suggest that the most preferred method of green building assessment is a Local Based Assessment, with local strategies and materials. Energy, water, health and wellbeing were determined to be the most preferred criteria for green building assessment. The proposed criteria could be used for guiding designers and planners in housing projects and for reviewing current building bye-laws
