Browsing by Author "Malinda, Moses Joseph Kelvin"
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- ItemQuality of project documentation as a major risk source in infrastructure projects in South Africa(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03) Malinda, Moses Joseph Kelvin; Wium, Jan A.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is a common occurrence for infrastructure projects to exceed the planned project cost and time and clients very often provide a contingency amount to counter the effects of such eventualities. The decision to mitigate project cost escalation and time overruns through contingency allocations is often arbitrary. Furthermore, poor quality is observed in some constructed assets. The research objective was therefore to explore the influence of quality of project documentation in the delivery of infrastructure projects in South Africa. The strategy used in the research was a literature review and two rounds of questionnaire surveys. Experts consulted in the study included clients, consultants and contractors. Overall mean scores were used to measure and rank the influencing factors. The study explored the factors that influence project key performance indicators which lead to failure to achieve project objectives within agreed time frames, cost and quality. Respondents agree that low or inadequate professional fees is the major driving factor that limit the performance of the consultant. The research findings suggest that low professional fees have resulted in consulting engineers missing effective project management methodologies in the delivery of infrastructure projects. On account of inadequate professional fees, the findings demonstrate that this is directly linked to personnel skills, leading to failure by consultants to practice value engineering. This has led to incomplete designs, design errors, bad specifications, as well as poor constructability through poor quality of project documentation. These deficiencies have the potential of increasing project cost, time and affect the quality, and in some instances, result in structural failure and accidents. Disputes have also been recorded in the delivery of some infrastructure projects. The quality of project documentation is therefore a major source of risk in the delivery of infrastructure projects in South Africa. Respondents support the proposals for the client organisations to limit the practice of professional fees discounting. The research further recommends a review of procurement strategies with respect to consultancy services to promote innovation in the delivery of consultancy services.