ABSTRACT
Technology nowadays have great impact on the construction industry and the way it works. The technology is viewed as crucial for effective and successful project delivery. Currently, Quantity Surveying (QS) appears to be one of the few professions that have not been profoundly transformed by the application of the technological advancement offered by digital revolution especially in a developing economy like Nigeria. The study examines the extent to which the Nigerian quantity surveyors have been moving with the times of information technology. The aim is to identify the challenges faced by the professionals by examining the challenges of the use and adoption of computer applications in a dynamic world of explosive growth of the information communication technology (ICT). The study adopted a survey design methodology. A survey based on structured questionnaire was used to elicit the relevant data from Quantity Surveyor who are all members of the Nigeria Institution of Surveyors. In all, fifty (50) respondents completed the questionnaire. The data was analyzed using the Relative Importance Index and Mean/average Score. The study identified four main factors from the literature and the survey as important challenges of the adoption and use of Information and communication technology tools by Quantity Surveyors in Minna, Niger state. Thus, budget constraints for Information and communication technology tools investments, lack of commitment by management towards ICT, lack of training and technical support for construction professionals in ICT, inadequate ICT content of construction educational system. The survey revealed three main professional quantity surveying software known among the Nigerian QS thus Masterbill, QS Elite and Win QS, however, yet they are not frequently used in their practice. Finally, it was recommended there should be financial support from both the private and public sector for Information and communication technology tools investment in construction industry, also to there should be increase in ICT content in construction education at all level.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Study
Businesses must innovate, develop new expertise, enter new markets, and carve out new niches in order to remain competitive (Harun & Abdullah, 2016). The management of knowledge is referred to as innovation in quantity surveying (QS) as well as recording project-based learning for later use (Hardie et al., 2015).
The quality surveying profession (QSP) is depicted as fostering innovation throughout the body of literature (Hardie et al., 2015), adapting and changing work output through the adoption of technologies, improving management and monitoring processes, offering crucial solutions, and putting novel ideas into practice (Blayse & Manley, 2014).
However, despite the QS industry's efforts to innovate (Hardie et al., 2015), stay competitive, and stay in business (Harun & Abdullah, 2016), the industry still faces some difficulties and is overburdened by expectations they must meet to make sure the QSP continues to thrive and that interest in the profession has never been higher (Cartlidge, 2011).
The QSP has been around for a long time and can be traced back to the ancient Egyptian culture (Cartlidge, 2011). With the introduction of the first public contract in the 17th century, the profession evolved into an occupation (RICS, 2015). The QSP was at its best between the 1950s and the 2010s (Cartlidge, 2011): bills of quantities were favored for tendering, and RICS fees were affordable and uncontested (Cartlidge, 2011).
Quantity surveying is an occupation that has existed since the dawn of time and is not a recent development. Even if it wasn't technically formed in the prehistoric era, humans managed to come up with the appropriate calculations for the cost of materials and their overall construction efforts. (2015) Nortey However, the British established a more structured method of the profession in the 17th century, giving it a scholarly and regal air (Ofori, 2012).
It is also clear that our world is dynamic and marked by constant technological advancement. The rapid development of information and communication technology (ICT), commonly known as IT, has had a profound impact on business systems and procedures (Rivardet al., 2014).
The development of Information and communication technology tools has enabled major shifts in business and industry practices, albeit at varying scales, including the construction sector (Li, 2010). To compete with their counterparts in other industries, the construction industry has embraced the use of Information and communication technology tools, including the internet, computing, telephoning, satellite communication, electronic mailing, and AutoCAD software (Ibidapo, 2010). The sof Information and communication technology tools application in the industry, with some notable ones like the expert systems (ES), artificial intelligence, knowledge-base systems (KBS), artificial neural networking (ANN), robotics, and computer aided design (CAD), determines the quantity surveyors' ability to take advantage of these new opportunities made possible by the advent of Information and communication technology tools (Arif and Karam, 2011). According to Rivardet al. (2014), the architectural, engineering, and construction business will soon adapt and benefit from Information and communication technology tools in the same way that other sectors like manufacturing and finance have done for a long time. According to Honey (2022), this is already the situation in many of the wealthy nations worldwide. Instead, he stated that since the turn of the century, quantity surveyor (QS) offices in the UK have become less reliant on paper-based operations, while electronic led-processes are reducing the need for taking-off sheets and other auxiliary stationery. Over the past ten years, the QS profession in Africa has also undergone significant change (Oladapo, 2016). These changes have primarily been brought about by shifting industry/client demands, IT advancements, increased levels of service competition, and the critical role that quantity surveyors play in achieving improved and efficient service delivery. Therefore, as stated by Wager (2022), there is no question that the construction sector needs to improve its information flow and project delivery mechanism. Therefore, QS computing infrastructure, software, and databases will need to develop in a way that is consistent with the growing electronic nature of information flow. Nigerian amount In order to maintain their competitive advantage and increase profitability through the implementation of IT, surveyors will need to adjust to changes in work patterns by increasing their efficiency and creating new markets.
The QSP was successful, but it wasn't without difficulties (Shafiei & Said, 2022). Clients led a battle for leaner, more affordable projects that could be finished on time in the second half of the 20th century. This changed the needs on the field (Cartlidge, 2011).
Construction personnel have to be proactive, inventive, competitive, and environment-adaptive due to the construction industry's shifting landscape. This wasspearheaded by the commercial revolution and the advent of new technologies, allowing professionals to survive in a meaningful and profitable way (Smith, 2014).
Today, quantity surveyors are more receptive, having adjusted to new processes, cultivated new knowledge, developed new niches, and adopted new technologies. Their services are being sought in the building market economy and other fields, such as the oil and gas industries, petrochemical, manufacturing, aeronautical, rail networks, telecommunications, and power networks (Blayse & Manley, 2014). The profession has changed from its original tasks of building quantification and bills of quantities preparation to more contemporary ones.
These include facilities management, commercial management, development management, program management, value management, risk management, and cost advice (Owusu-Manu et al., 2014).
1.2 Problem Statement
The background information provided makes it clear that the Quantity Surveyor (QS) in the construction business cannot disregard the significance and rising responsibilities of Information and communication technology tools. The fact that most surveying processes still heavily rely on conventional forms of documentation and communication, such as in-person meetings and the exchange of paper documents like bills of quantity, drawings, specifications, and site instructions, is one of the clear challenges facing Nigerian quantity surveyors today (Mohamed and Stewart, 2013).
Quantity surveyors are portrayed as process innovation gurus in literature (Hardie et al., 2015). Process innovation is the addition of novel components, production techniques, management strategies, and expertise to a company's manufacturing or service operations. Process innovation aims to improve internal organizational processes' efficacy and efficiency, facilitating the production and delivery of goods or services to clients in order to achieve reduced production costs and greater product quality (Reichstein & Salter, 2016).
Despite the QS’s survival of past industry changes, the profession is not immune to threats in its operating environment (Shafiei & Said, 2022). The RICS Black Book, new management guidelines, evolving information and communications technologies, and building information modeling (BIM) are just a few examples of recent improvements to QS practice (Smith, 2014;). According to a study by Olatunji et al. (2010), BIM poses a significant threat to the traditional QS service and may reshape its professional limits as well as its content.
Additionally, the quantity surveyor must be knowledgeable about business finance management and the threats to the existence of enterprises posed by an increase in competition as a result of globalization (Davis et al., 2017;).
The changes in the industry will only continue to escalate (Smith, 2014); organizations in all fields are under increasing pressure to offer value-added services, innovate, and learn to survive and grow in the face of increased competition and rapid change (Ofori, 2012). The QSP must be ready to address these changing times by improving their skills in information technology, improving their qualifications, and continuing to expand their current roles (Owusu-Manu et al., 2014). The profession must be bolder, more entrepreneurial, and more proactive (Smith, 2014). It should conduct robust continuing professional development programs and periodic examinations of its members (Owusu-Manu et al., 2014). Grant (2014) suggested that quantity surveyors diversify their domain of expertise and strengthen the bases of their strategic assets, such as education, training, experience, and knowledge. Consequently, there should be greater focus on how expertise in project procurement can be improved (Kumaraswamy & Dulaimi, 2011), and how the construction value chain can be made more efficient (Atkin, 2022). Also, there is the need to address the concerns of sustainable development, health, and safety in project delivery (Lingard & Rowlinson, 2016), and enhancing the level of professionalism in the construction industry (Vee & Skitmore, 2013). More so, the industry must learn how to transform the adversarial mindsets of practitioners, and promote collaborative approaches (Li et al., 2011). Subsequently, there is the need to eradicate corruption in the industry (Stansbury, 2015; Transparency International, 2016), and enhance the social image of construction (Rameezdeen, 2017); and, perhaps most importantly, how to attract, retain, and develop talent (Toor & Ofori, 2022b).
For this reason, the vast benefits offered by ICT in the construction industry though seems recognized, its adoption and use as normal part of the Quantity Surveying management and process is still low; and contractors among the major players, have often been cited as those who use ICT least of all (Peansupap and Walker, 2014).
While this situation could probably be true within the Quantity Surveying industry, specific details regarding the extent of application and problems facing the use of Information and communication technology tools among the Nigerian Quantity Surveying industry still remain unclear. This study seeks to assess the situation in Quantity Surveying industry in Nigeria.
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