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An Investigation Into Design Errors And It's Impact On Initial Cost Of A Construction Project
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1.7 SCOPE OF STUDY
This
research focuses mainly on the investigation of design errors on
initial cost of a project. Results and recommendations may not be used
to generalise other construction companies in Nigeria, as the researcher
could not cover a wider scope due to financial and time constraints.
Based
on the findings of this study other possible researchable areas may
include studies on the various effects of other aspects of contracts
such as contract laws in Nigeria and contract management and control.
1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The
only limitation faced by the researcher in the course of carrying out
this study was the delay in getting data from the various respondents.
Most respondents were reluctant in filling questionnaires administered
to them due to their busy schedules and nature of their work. The
researcher found it difficult to collect responses from the various
respondents, and this almost hampered the success of this study.
1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Design:
The basic definition of design, according to Webster, is "the making of
drawings or plans to plan and fashion the form and structure of an
object to have intentions or purposes." The quality of planning and
design is one of the primary factors of success in any project endeavor
(Chalabi, Beaudin and Salazar, 1987). The design includes every aspect
of the facility construction including operation and maintenance. The
design incorporates a set of specifications to guide the contractor in
developing his means and methods of construction. Figure 2-1 shows the
traditional flow diagram of a design/construction method.
Error: An
error is defined, according to Webster, as "a deviation from accuracy or
correctness; a mistake, as in action or procedure; an inaccuracy, as in
speaking or writing." There are basically three types of errors:
imperfections, non-conformance and omissions. Imperfections are
deviations in details that have no affect on the assembly or facility
(Davis and Ledbetter, 1987).
Design Error: From the evaluation above a
simple definition of design error is "a deviation from the plans and
specifications." It is not the intention of this definition to include
any cost or schedule growth or insinuate its root causes or legal
responsibility. It is the responsibility of the owner, designer and
contractor to establish the criteria in order to make a reasonable
determination for responsibility. The survey shows a common theme, that
of a mistake or error in the design. The survey also indicates several
reasons why design errors exist and who cause them. This provides
evidence that there is not a concise definition within the construction
industry.
Contract:Â Erikson (2002) defined Contract as an agreement
that creates an obligation binding upon the parties thereto. The
essentials of a contract are as follows: (1) mutual assent; (2) a legal
consideration, which in most instances need not be pecuniary; (3)
parties who have legal capacity to make a contract; (4) absence of fraud
or duress; and (5) a subject matter that is not illegal or against
public policy.
Contract Planning: According to Simmons
(2007),Contract planning is the process of systematically and
efficiently managing contract creation, execution and analysis for
maximising operational and financial performance and minimising risk.
Contractor:
General contractor, organization or individual that contracts with
another organization or individual (the owner) for the construction of a
building, road or other facility.
Profit:Â Tucy (2008) defined profit as the difference between the purchase price and the costs of bringing to market
Initial
Cost: Initial costs are fixed, one-time expenses incurred on the
purchase of land, buildings, construction, and equipment used in the
production of goods or in the rendering of services. Put simply, it is
the total cost needed to bring a project to a commercially operable
status. Whether a particular cost is capital or not depend on many
factors such as accounting, tax laws, and materiality.
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