De-Graft Owusu-Manu

Rural infrastructure development in the Volta region of Ghana: barriers and interventions

Purpose – Although a high proportion of the Ghanaian population live and work in under‐developed areas, research on rural infrastructure development is scarce. The purpose of this paper is to explore the challenges confronting rural infrastructure development and the requisite incentives needed to boost it.Design/methodology/approach – An inductive methodological approach was adopted using a structured questionnaire to survey the perceptions of rural contractors.Findings – Incentive systems identified include the provision of mobilization funds for projects; a plant pool for rural contractors; special allowance for rates of project items; and provision of letters of credit to secure loans for projects. Key challenges confronting rural construction were identified as a lack of financial institutions willing to support projects with funds; lack of potable water; lack of good health care systems; and lack of a goods market to supply materials.Research limitations/implications – Identification of challenges a...

Barriers to the implementation of innovative financing (IF) of infrastructure

Purpose – Failure to resolve Ghanas infrastructure deficit, coupled with inability of traditional financing methods to meet current infrastructure demand, have triggered recent studies to explore strategic issues underpinning innovative financing (IF) of infrastructure. The purpose of this study is to explore potential impediments inherent in IF tools available to Ghana.Design/methodology/approach – The empirical aspect of the investigation used structured interviews and a survey questionnaire to gather data from project implementation agencies with experience of infrastructure IF. Factor analysis (principal component analysis) established which variables measured aspects of the same underlying dimensions.Findings – A total of three key challenges were identified, and explained in terms of: investment capacity; implementation and revenue mobilization. Findings provide an early failure signal when implementing IF.Practical implications – Conclusions and recommendations are of benefit to various internatio...

Barriers Affecting the Adoption of Green Building Technologies

AbstractGreen building (GB) is gaining increased acceptance in the construction industry as a viable solution for meeting the growing demand for environmentally friendly or healthy buildings. Howev...

A fuzzy model for evaluating risk impacts on variability between contract sum and final account in government-funded construction projects

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify and then evaluate perceived risk factors influencing variability between contract sum and final count, and to develop a fuzzy risk assessment model for evaluating the overall impact of established critical risk factors impacting on variability between contract sum and final account in government-funded construction projects. Construction projects are characterised by risk factors that significantly impact on variability between the contract sum and final account. Design/methodology/approach – A research approach integrating questionnaire survey, mean scoring ranking and principal component factor analysis (PCFA) methods was adopted to evaluate and classify the critical risk factors. A fuzzy synthetic evaluation method was sequentially applied to compute the overall risk impact (ORI) of eight critical risk factors’ impact on variability between contract sum and final account. Findings – Initial results showed that eight critical risk factors have high impa...

Exploration of management practices for LEED projects : Lessons from successful green building contractors

Purpose – Traditional management systems sometimes struggle to meet the unique demands of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) projects. Consequently, contractors have to modify their management practices. The purpose of this paper is to explore the management practices necessary to achieve successful implementation of LEED projects.Design/methodology/approach – LEED project management practices implemented by six US contractors from the Top 100 Green Contractors list published by the Engineering News and Record, were analysed using structured case study interviews. An additional case study probed management practices implemented on a LEED‐GOLD project.Findings – Findings support the implementation of management practices classified using the six Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria of leadership, strategic planning, customer focus, measurement, analysis and knowledge management, workforce focus and operation focus.Research limitations/implications – The qualitative study was b...

Corporate social responsibility architecture and project alignments: A study of the Ghanaian construction industry

Purpose – The developed world increasingly expects corporations to support the community under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) banner. For developing countries, the situation differs and CSR has yet to be fully embraced. This study aims to examine the CSR in the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI). Design/methodology/approach – A multi-stage methodology employs descriptive statistics, the t-test and χ2-test to analyse survey data. Findings – Results highlight three broad classifications of CSR project typology: social; infrastructure; and environmental. Ghanaian firms are found more aligned to social/intangible CSR projects than tangible ones. Research limitations/implications – The study is geographically focussed, but the findings hold relevance to all the developing countries. The findings hold implications for policy making and planning in terms of how Ghanaian communities might integrate corporations within their geographical catchments, to enhance sustainable, local development. Originali...

Innovative financing (IF) of infrastructure projects in Ghana: conceptual and empirical observations

Traditional methods of financing have failed to resolve Ghanas infrastructure deficit. Innovative financing (IF) solutions are being encouraged to alleviate this, but presently IF knowledge is limited. This study provides an overview and maps the evolution of IF solutions to conceptually model their characteristics and application to major infrastructure projects, especially in the context of LDCs. An inductive methodology draws extensively on extant literature and published data from Ghanaian ministries, departments and agencies who procure infrastructure works. The study highlights how the IF concept stems from a plethora of public finance issues including reform of government service delivery, new tax tools, public–private partnerships and alternative financing arrangements and further how IF has been focused at educational, road, water infrastructure, housing and district assemblies. Through illumination of the Ghanaian IF concept, the study will be of utility to policy makers and international devel...

Exploring value for money (VfM) assessment methods of public-private partnership projects in Ghana

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the various approaches prescribed in literature in the assessment of value for money (VfM) of public–private partnership (PPP) projects with the aim to develop a theoretical framework for measuring VfM in Ghana.Public–private partnership (PPP) has long been recognized as an effective way of procuring public infrastructure to deliver value for money, but the subject has received little research attention in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology comprises a multi-stage critical review of relevant literature; review of Ghana’s National Policy on PPP and review of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663). This paper was underpinned by an interpretivist philosophy and is inductive in nature. Findings – The approach for VfM assessment largely depends on the jurisdiction of the project. Multiple methods (qualitative and quantitative) are used along the project cycle in the bid to achieve VfM. The most common assessment approaches include public sector comparator shadow bid, lease-purchase analysis, cost benefits analysis, public interest test central guidelines and competitive bidding. The study developed a theoretical framework for assessing VfM in Ghana. Research limitations/implications – The research was purely exploratory and non-empirical; and hence cannot be generalized in a broader context. Practical implications – Implementation of the National PPP policy and for PPP to thrive in Ghana, a framework to guide the assessment and achievement of VfM is crucial. The steps outlined if followed would help ensure the public receives the best of all PPP deals in Ghana. Originality/value – This paper is unique providing insights into a conceptual basis for assessing VfM and provides a basis for future empirical study.

Conceptualisation of the consultancy pricing paradox

Purpose – Despite widespread demand for consultants and especially within the surveying profession, driving forces of service/pricing/quality are not fully understood and have received minimal research attention. The purpose of this paper is to review contemporary knowledge in this field, highlighting en route the dilemmas of the consultancy pricing paradox.Design/methodology/approach – Methodology is of axiological, philosophical tradition – induction and inference, generalized concepts and theories. A critique of extant literature underpins a theoretical pricing problem framework, a future research agenda, and a model of the pricing paradox.Findings – The study elucidates paradoxical aspects regarding value perceptions, objectives, strategies, cost recovery, competition and systematic processes. It conceptually models the dilemma of service pricing and suggests a research agenda based on process and value, nature of service, competence and branding.Research limitations/implications – The formalisation o...

Development of a Procurement Management Framework in Ghana A New Paradigm for Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Education

Procurement in the corporate world is increasingly complex, multi-faceted and interdisciplinary. This paper explores existing knowledge specifications relating to procurement management competencies and proposes a new procurement management competency framework (PMCF) and a competency-based postgraduate programme for postgraduate students in Ghana. A three-tier iterative and inductive methodology was used to develop the proposed framework and a literature survey and focus group discussions were used to explore the competency requirements for procurement management practice. The reliability, consistency and applicability of the framework were each tested using a modified single-phase Delphi survey. Five logical knowledge constructs were identified as providing the foundations for a modern public procurement system: financial; social; corporate governance; technology and globalization; and research and teamwork. The PMCF combines strategical, managerial and technical competencies and incorporates economic and social dimensions of procurement functions. It is hoped that the research findings will be of use to academics and those in industry involved with the education and training of future generations of procurement professionals.