Project – An appraisal of the effect prime factors of construction project on the causes of construction project abandonment

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background of the study

Alabi (2012), Advance in technology have revolutionized construction activity in Modern construction areas like high-rise buildings, dams, irrigation networks, energy conversion and industrial plants, environmental protection works, infrastructural facilities like roads, bridges, railways, airports and seaports, satellite launching stations, onshore and offshore oil terminals. Construction activities contribute to the economic development of a country. It is an employment spinner; it Generate more employment than most of the sectors.

According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), the discipline of project management can be defined as follows; project management is the act of planning, organizing, securing, managing, leading, directing and controlling human and material resources throughout the life of a project by using modern management techniques to achieve predetermined objectives of scope, cost, time, and quality and participation satisfaction.

Construction project have a specific set of objectives and constraints such as a required time frame, for completion. Typical constraints are scope, time and budget: The primary challenge of construction project management is to achieve all of the projects objectives and goals while honouring the preconceived constraints, (Bobbie, 2010).

The secondary and more ambitious challenge of construction project management is to optimize the allocation of necessary inputs and integrate them to meet predefined objectives. However, the management of construction project requires knowledge of modern management as well as an understanding of design and construction. It was in the 1950s that organizations started to systematically apply project management tools and techniques to complex building project. Two fore fathers of project management are Henry Gantt called the father of planning and control techniques, which is famous for his use of Gantt chart as a project management tool. Alternatively, Harmonogram first proposed by Karol Ademieki and Henri Fayol (2014), for his creation of five management functions that form the foundation of the body of knowledge associated with project management project were managed on an ad-hoc basis, using mostly Gantt chart and informal techniques and tools.

Longman Dictionary (2005) defines abandon as “to stop doing something because there are too many problems and it is impossible to continue.  Planning is foremost thing to be done if projects are to be completely executed (Akindoyeni, 2011). Ogunsemi (2013) stated that the successful completion of a project depends on adequate planning which also includes financial planning. Abandoned projects including building, Civil Engineering and heavy engineering development project like: houses, churches, schools, roads, bridges, dams, tunnels, air port, sea port etc. Osemenan (2013) reported that Nigeria has become the “world’s junk-yard of abandoned projects worth billions of naira and it is greatly unthinkable that Nigeria blessed with so great potentials in the construction industry can experience such magnitude of project abandonment.

Akindoyeni (2011) qualitatively reasoned that some of the causes of project abandonment are: deaths of client, inability of client to attract fund and lack of good planning.  This study is set up to quantitatively determine the proffer used of elements of management tore reduce the level of construction project abandonment, and their effects on the construction industry economy.

1.2   NEED FOR THE STUDY

According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), the discipline of project management can be defined as follows; project management is the act of planning, organizing, securing, managing, leading, directing and controlling human and material resources throughout the life of a project by using modern management techniques to achieve predetermined objectives of scope, cost, time, and quality and participation satisfaction.

Akindoyeni(2012) qualitatively reason that some of the causes of project abandonment in Nigeria are: death of the client ,inability of client to attract fund and lack of good planning, Many construction project have became abandoned due to improper utilisation of element of management. Ogunsemi(2013) stated that the successful completion of a project depends on adequate planning which also includes financial planning. The study of this project is to enhance ways in which construction project can be improved for greater effectiveness and higher efficiency in construction project especially at the design stage and construction stage, which will eliminate the abandon of the construction project.

 

1.3   STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Osemenan (2014), The lack of proper utilisation of skill of management techniques for effective management practice affect construction industry and has contributes to the major setback particularly in  small-to-medium scale construction firms which lead to abandon project. Economic meltdown in turned  affects  individuals nations and the  society, the causes of construction project abandoned such as ; faulty design, Inadequate planning, Inflation, Death of client, variation of project scope, political factors ,Delaying in payment, wrong estimate, Natural disaster, Inadequate control, Improper documentation, Dispute, Administration/legal action. Which normally occur when building contractors do not have a good Knowledge of their project and types of estimates which lead to project abandoned though low costing for Contract (Akindoyeni 2013). This observation has motivate the need for a details studies of construction firms with the view to access the prime element of management (The key management functions)Such as; personnel, management, Financial management, Construction planning and schedule, Plant and equipment management, Safety management and quality control. The key Element of managing project has positive impact on project delivery and the industries.

1.4   AIMS AND OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

1.4.1 AIM

The aim of the study is to appraise the effect of prime element of construction project and causes of construction project construction project abandonment with a view to improved construction project delivery.

 

1.4.2 OBJECTIVE

1. To identify the prime element that lead to construction project abandonment.
2. To determine the causes of construction project abandonment.

• To find the relationship between factors of prime element of construction project and the causes of construction project abandonment.

1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

1.5.1    SCOPE

This study is mainly focus on profession such as ; Builders, Quantity Surveyors, Architect, civil engineers, and contractors in construction firms within Zaria metropolis  Area, the study of this project is to enhance ways in which project can be improved for greater effectiveness and higher efficiency in construction project especially at the design stage and construction stage.

 

1.5.2    LIMITATION

This research will be carried out with the data collection from selected medium construction firms within Kaduna and Zaria metropolises Area

 

1.6     METHODOLGY

The research method for this study will adopt quantitative research approach method. Creswell (2019) defined quantitative research as means of testing object theories by examine the relationship between among the variables. The research will out the through the primary and secondary collection of data.

The primary sources of data will be;

1. Questionnaire
2. Visitation to different construction site

And the secondary sources of data are;

1. Literature review
2. Journals
3. Textbooks
4. Publish and unpublished thesis etc.

 

Project – An appraisal of the effect prime factors of construction project on the causes of construction project abandonment