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Ascertaining the impact of contractors pre-qualification criteria on project success criteria

Victor Karikari Acheamfour (Department of Construction Technology and Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana)
Ernest Kissi (Department of Construction Technology and Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana)
Theophilus Adjei-Kumi (Department of Construction Technology and Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana)

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

ISSN: 0969-9988

Article publication date: 2 April 2019

Issue publication date: 20 May 2019

832

Abstract

Purpose

The selection of a suitable contractor for a project has a significant impact on project success. In order to avoid the selection of an incapable contractor, the capabilities of contractors must be assessed prior to tendering through pre-qualification. However, the pre-qualification process is characterized by partiality and ambiguity. In view of this, numerous models have been developed to solve the pre-qualification problems. Prior to the development of such models, it is very important to assess how the pre-qualification criteria impact project success criteria so as to aid in the selection of pre-qualification criteria while considering the project and client’s objectives. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to ascertain the relationship between contractors’ pre-qualification criteria and project success criteria.

Design/methodology/approach

The study utilized explanatory research design in testing 35 hypotheses. The views of 121 practising quantity surveyors were solicited using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using the partial least square structural equation modeling to validate the hypothesis.

Findings

In all, 13 of the 35 hypotheses were not supported. The findings indicated a clear relationship between contractors’ pre-qualification and project success.

Practical implications

Therefore, it is evident that the practice of lowest evaluate bidder is not adequate for providing a satisfactory project outcome. It is, therefore, suggested that more emphasis should be placed on contractor’s technical abilities, health and safety and management capabilities as they have proven to have a significant correlation with the project success.

Originality/value

This study provides insights to the how various pre-qualification criteria can impact the project success criteria and further contributes to the symbiotic that exist in the literature on pre-qualification and project success.

Keywords

Citation

Acheamfour, V.K., Kissi, E. and Adjei-Kumi, T. (2019), "Ascertaining the impact of contractors pre-qualification criteria on project success criteria", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 26 No. 4, pp. 618-632. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-03-2018-0110

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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