ATTITUDES AND BARRIERS TOWARDS INTEGRATED PRACTICES IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Abstract

The construction industry in Singapore is embedded with fragmentation issues where projects experience poor integration and low productivity. Although existing studies promoted Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) as the forthcoming solution, no studies were conducted to examine the attitudes and barriers towards IPD adoption in Singapore. This research reviews the existing adoption of IPD, identifies factors affecting project outcomes and highlights barriers hindering adoption. Using an online survey, responses from construction professionals were collated and tested with SPSS software. The results showed that although respondents were generally unfamiliar with IPD, integrated practices have been largely adopted at company level. At the project level, some limited integrated practices are adopted. The main finding is that developing and updating cost overrun recovery plan may give rise to benefits such as systematic approach to resolve issue to achieve improved cost management, overall project performance and business relationships among the involved participants. Next, relationship among team members, dissemination of information among participants and methods to achieve project objectives as specified in contractual agreement are positively correlated to project outcomes for test between project outcome and project characteristics. Lastly, the lack of standards and law governing IPD practice and, lack of IPD knowledge hinders the adoption of IPD. The research contributes to knowledge through identifying integrated practices that may lead to positive project outcomes and barriers that need to be overcome before full-fledged IPD implementation can take place. Recommendations have been made with respect to improve the adoption of IPD for the government and clients.