COMMUNICATION AS A TOOL FOR BUILDING PROJECT DELIVERY

1.1 Introduction

Effective communication is an essential ingredient that can help in achieving the set goal of a construction project. Craig (2001) defined communication as the process of sharing ideas, thoughts and feelings with target set of person or group of persons and having those ideas, thoughts and feelings understood by them. In other word, communication could be regarded as transfer of information from a person to another. It involves the use of technical term, symbol, letters, drawings, signs, posters and words. The technical terms used should be understood by the receiver; else the essence of communication is hindered. Communication links group of members together and help to coordinate their activities.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Construction is the world's largest and most challenging industry. The industry is highly a dynamic sector and plays a very important role in the development of a country. However, construction industry, faces chronic problems such as poor productivity, poor performance of time and cost etc, as reported only 37.2% of projects were completed within their predetermined cost. This was as a result of lack of investigation on construction labour productivity and cost performance.

The traditional contract theory has ensured that a contract should contain the agreement that would deal specifically with all expected incident which may or may not occur in the future in the course of managing the execution of the building project. If the parties to the contract intend therefore to contend and contain all agreement for uncertain situation in one simple document “the contract”, the contract document would likely become extremely complex. This is why the construction contract is regarded as “incomplete” contracts which do not provide specific responses for all contingencies but is based on the rule of “risk sharing”.

Oresegun (2012) defined communication as transfer of knowledge which could be downward, horizontal or upward. Prasad and Tata (2000) posited that communication strengthens connection between employees, build cooperation, reinforce interdependency and help in having common focus when adequately harnessed by a manager. Communication is a linking mechanism between different organisation sub-systems and also an inter-construction and intra-undermined in goal-driven organisation like construction industry.

Considering the above definition of communication, it is observed that everybody in an organization is responsible for communication irrespective of the role of the person being the originator or the receiver of the information. In all aspects of human professions, communication is seen as a vital central organ especially through the use of language. Humans have transferred culture, record history and document occurrences to a good deal with the use of language from one generation to another. The organ called communication has helped man to build societies and other social groups which has contributed immensely to the growth of man’s life 3 enjoyable. Through effective communication, the workers especially in construction firms find it easy and highly productive to work together. Instruction and order are given and they are carried out as expected once they are well understood and acted upon rightly. The working day of every personnel is filled with communication indifferent ways and forms through orders, directives, information, conversation, requests and rumors.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Communication as a tool for Building Project Delivery.

1.3 Statement of Problem

Effective communication has not been given enough attention in construction firms thereby creating many loop holes in information dissemination. As a result of this poor attitude in the industry, it is found necessary to create solution to such problems through this research as to improve productivity in construction firms.

Many factors are responsible for the influence of labour productivity on cost performance in project. These factors when not put in place could bring about reduction in level of productivity and consequently affect cost performance of projects. There has been lack of investigation into labour productivity and cost performance which is probably due to the low level of awareness of the merits of such investigations. This problem has overtime denied construction works of its ideal cost and if un-attended to, it might in the nearest future overshadow the important potentials of improved labour productivity.

Another problem that has been identified is that of inconsistency in the level of labour productivity. This has subsequently affected cost of the project. It is therefore imminent for this problem to be assessed and solved so as to institutionalize a consistent standard for construction projects.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to scrutinize the Communication as a tool for Building Project Delivery. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To identify the problem caused by ineffective communication in the construction industry.
2. To identify the major factors that causes ineffective communication in the construction industry.
3. To identify factors affecting the accuracy of the building construction projects delivery cost estimating process.
4. To assess the effects of communication among the professionals on building project delivery with a view to developing models for determining the effects of communication on completion time, cost, client satisfaction, and project management.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• What are the factors affecting the accuracy of the building construction projects delivery cost estimating process?
• Is there any significant factor affecting the accuracy of the cost estimates?
• What productivity related factors influences cost performance?
• What is the most significant productivity factors influencing cost performance?
• What is the relationship between building project delivery labour productivity and cost performance?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no significant problem caused by ineffective communication in the construction industry.
• H1: There is a significant problem caused by ineffective communication in the construction industry.

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There is no relationship between estimation practice and cost performance of a building project delivery
• H1: There is a relationship between estimation practice and cost performance of a building project delivery

1.7 Significance of Study

Construction clients, contracting organizations, specialist, consultants and suppliers, individual professional contractors, lecturers and students in the construction and allied field would find the study very useful as it will contribute to their own effort to optimize their level of involvement in construction activities. Based on the results and findings of this research work, construction stakeholders, would be able to appreciate and control the parameters involved in the productivity and cost performance concept of construction projects.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

1.8 Scope of Study

The study focuses on the Communication as a tool for Building Project Delivery in Nigeria using Akwa Ibom State building projects as a case study.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).