Assessing the role of quantity surveyors in managing construction claims in Uganda: a case study of Kampala

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the pivotal role of quantity surveyors in managing construction claims on construction projects in Uganda, focusing on Kampala. These claims are undesirable as they require significant time and resources to resolve and cause adversarial relationships among the parties involved, making disputes, delays, and cost overruns a common occurrence. Generally, the research explored the significant types and causes of construction claims faced on various construction projects, the effectiveness of the claim management practices that are in place, identified the most significant roles that quantity surveyors can undertake to reduce the considerable burdens that construction claims impose, and lastly developed a framework that quantity surveyors can utilize to manage construction claims. A descriptive research design and survey research method were adopted in this study. Questionnaires were administered online via emails and LinkedIn platform. The study involved registered quantity surveyors working in consultancy firms, contractor firms, real estate and government institutions. Sample selection utilized Slovin's formula and simple random sampling to ensure unbiased participant representation. Data collection methods included document review to analyze existing research on claims and their management practices, as well as the roles of quantity surveyors. Data was analyzed using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and STATA software. Guided by specific objectives, the findings from this study indicate the most frequent types of claims on construction projects were payment-related claims, delay claims, change claims, delay claims and extra work claims ranked 1st to 4th respectively. The results from this study also showed that the main factors that contributed to the high level of occurrence of claims were change or variation orders, delay in payments, and change in work scope with an RII percentage of above 70%. Effective communication, clear contract documentation, record keeping, and cost control were ranked as the best claim management practices. The most significant roles such as cost planning, cost estimation, value engineering, cost control, contract administration, and management of changes, among others across the various stages of the RIBA Plan of work were identified, together with suggested strategies such as risk assessment, documentation, effective communication, planning, client involvement, stakeholder collaboration among others were incorporated into the development of a framework that quantity surveyors can use