Investigating Pre-Construction Planning in the Construction Industry of Kenya: Practitioners Perspective
Cyrus Babu Ong`ondo
Ong`Ondo Babu Cyrus, Department of Construction Management, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology (JKUAT). Juja, Kenya.
Manuscript received on January 09, 2016. | Revised Manuscript received on January 21, 2016. | Manuscript published on March 05, 2016. | PP: 38-42 | Volume-6 Issue-1, March 2016. | Retrieval Number: A2799036116/2016©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: The subject of pre-construction planning is central to the success of project controls and performance during the implementation of construction projects. However, projects have been failing pointing to the need to relook at the planning for projects implementation. In the construction industry of Kenya, performances challenges during projects implementation is a chronic problem. Projects do not achieve their planned cost, time and quality objectives among other performance measures. This study sought to investigate pre-construction planning in the construction industry of Kenya, with emphasis on its adequacy. This cross-sectional research adopted a mixed-method design consisting of analysis of a questionnaire survey administered to active 95No. (NCA1, NCA2 and NCA3) contractors selected by way of stratified random sampling. A similar approach was also used to select 92No.Consultants with a response rate of 54.73% and 46.73% respectively. In addition, 11No.practitioners wereinterviewed in the currentstudy. Data analysis techniques employed include descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.The study established five (5No.) issues that need to be given careful attention when planning for projects implementation. The issues in order of importance include; Clarity of Scope Statement (RII=0.896), Clarity of performance benchmarks (RII=0.865), Competency of the project team (RII=0.0.682), Clarity of roles definition (RII=0.764) and Contractors selection criteria (RII=0.726). The study concludes by compiling views of the practitioners on what they consider good practice in improving the pre-construction planning practice. The study recommends the use of the good-practice checklist developed for better projects performance.
Keywords: Pre-construction planning, construction industry, good-Practice checklist, Kenya.