Responsiveness of Quantity Surveying Research to the Construction Industry Related Problems in Nigeria

Abstract

Numerous challenges facing the construction industry require investigations through academic research to proffer urgent solutions. Academics endeavour to produce research outputs to combat these challenges yet practitioners disagree on the practicality of academic research. Therefore, this paper presents a report that explores the responsiveness of academic research produced by quantity surveyors – a construction professional, to solving severe challenges in the construction industry in Nigeria. Primary data were obtained through questionnaire survey from purposively selected 15 academics and 44 practicing quantity surveyors in South-western Nigeria. The data collected were analyzed using the severity index, mean score, relative importance index and Mann-Whitney U test. The study revealed that quantity surveying academic research (QSAR) is sufficient to solve the most severe challenges in the construction industry which include porosity of tendering procedures, cost and time overrun of projects. Also, QSAR is relevant to the construction industry’s problem. Therefore, the study implies that QSAR should be adopted by the construction industry since they are capable of solving the challenges plaguing it.

Keywords: Academic researches, Construction Industry, Challenges, Quantity Surveying Research relevance.