Significance of the people factor in early stage estimating of project costs

Abdulla Fetais, Srinath Perera, Lei Zhou

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperConference Paperpeer-review

Abstract

![CDATA[In order to implement an ambitious long-term vision for the country, Qatar created two organisations for project delivery and control, a public works authority and a state investment company. Although Qatar’s economy is healthy, there remains a financial gap for infrastructure development. Significant cost increases in infrastructure projects have stimulated a search for explanations; hence this study explored the significance of the people factor in the production and use of conceptual cost estimates. Extensive reading of relevant literature revealed a complex web of influences impacting these cost estimates. Two main sets of factors were identified; people and technical. Each set operates on four levels: individual, project team, organisation and wider society. Based on activity theory, the research design combined an epistemology of action, a theoretical perspective of social constructionism and a case study methodology employing interviews and observations. Data collected from 23 project professionals were analysed using grounded theory and activity theory approaches. The people factor was shown to exert a strong influence at all stages from conceptual cost estimate onwards, but the most significant findings are that the young organisations are developing a different project culture in which workforce diversity promotes dialogue which in turn creates extensive consideration of risks that informs conceptual cost estimates and is further reflected in a learning organisation culture. It is proposed that the production of relatively robust estimates and the creation of aspects of culture are both achieved through the creation of boundary objects.]]
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationRICS COBRA AUBEA 2013: The Construction, Building and Real Estate Research Conference of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Held in New Delhi, India in Association with the University of Ulster and IIT Delhi, 10th-12th September 2013
PublisherRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Number of pages9
ISBN (Print)9781783210305
Publication statusPublished - 2013
EventCOBRA (Conference) -
Duration: 8 Jul 2015 → …

Conference

ConferenceCOBRA (Conference)
Period8/07/15 → …

Keywords

  • project management
  • estimates
  • human factors
  • Qatar

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