Examining architects' performance in relation to project delivery in the public sector building projects in Sri Lanka

Abstract

It is observed that the poor performance of Architects in the construction industry is causing concerns within the construction community in Sri Lanka and in other parts of the world, which is becoming a major concern to be considered and addressed. In this scenario, this study explores the architects performance in building projects of public sector organizations in the capacity of a consortium service provider for building projects, with the intention of identifying and understanding primarily, the issues and areas of poor performance by architects, with the intention of providing guidelines and recommendations for architectural practices to enhance their quality of service in the public sector, and also to understand the underlying external causes, independent from the architect, contributing to the poor performance. A questionnaire survey has been carried out across major public sector organizations with considerable annual construction budget, obtaining services largely from Consultant architects in the capacity of consortium service. The questionnaire consists of the clients input with regard to the major phases of a construction project, and the basic information with regard to the project background. The analysis reveals that the success of the project outcome is dependent on primarily, the project briefing stage, project management aspects, time taken for the contract documentation, consistency of client's project team and the Incidence of architects Site inspections and the regularity of site meetings held. Contrary to the common beliefs, the study reveals that method of appointment of the architect, the fees and the project cost, the bidding and negotiation stage, the presence of clerks of works at site, has no significant effect in determining the success or failure project outcome, in respect of the clients. Based on the above findings, recommendations are made in view of enhancing the architect's performance in the public sector construction scenario, especially with regard to the enhancement of project management responsibilities and capabilities of architectural practice in Sri Lanka, and other detrimental issues discussed abov