Decision to engage nominated subcontractors on construction projects in Nigeria

Abstract

Engaging subcontractors on construction projects is common practice in the building industry. Though nominated by the consultants acting on behave of the client, nominated subcontractors must also be engaged under the main contractor. The decision to nominate this category of subcontractors rests with the client consultants of any given project. The objective of this study is to identify factors that influence decisions to nominate subcontractors on construction projects in Nigeria. The research adopts a quantitative method of inquiry, with the aid of closedended questionnaires. 10 factors identified from the related literature were placed on a fivepoint Likert scale to measure the relative importance of each factor when considering nominated subcontracting. A simple random sampling technique was used to self-administer the questionnaires to construction consultants within Abuja metropolis. A total of 34 duly completed questionnaires were analysed using descriptive methods (percentages, mean and coefficient of variation). Nature of specialist work and a need for speedy completion of the project were ranked very important factors that influence decision to nominate subcontrators on construction projects in Nigeria. However, factors such as project uncertainties, maintaining business relationships and site location have less influence on decision to engage these subcontractors. In conclusion, the study found that the most important factors relate to two of the three project parameters (cost, time, quality). While specialist works is to quality, speedy completion is to time, this suggests the need to encourage specialisation and skill consolidation by subcontractors rather than general contracting.