Simplified cost control technique for small and medium sized building contractors

Kantarcioglu, Mustafa V. (1984) Simplified cost control technique for small and medium sized building contractors. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (17MB) [English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

During the last thirty years, smaller building contractors who do jobs up to five million dollars in value and who make up approximately ninety percent of the construction industry, have experienced increasing difficulties and failures in completing construction projects on time and within budget. The factors responsible are generally identified as today's more complex projects and environmental protection demands inflation and financing difficulties, and multiplicity of union demands. Since monitoring of these factors is complex, it is difficult to control them using traditional cost control methods. -- To understand these real life problems faced by smaller building contractors, the present construction industry practice has been studied both through interviews and survey of recent publications. In spite of low profits, only a minority gives up the traditional practices in favour of modern techniques. They are afraid that the transition will be costly, will require new expertise and will cause implementation difficulties. Their reluctance is understandable, since most modern techniques are computer based and the available package programs are tailored to meet the needs of large organizations or are very specific, capable of meeting limited needs. -- This Project Report presents a Simplified Cost Control Technique (SCCT) which is easy and simple for adoption by these contractors and at the same time overcomes the drawbacks of traditional methods. SCCT proposes the preparation of workbreakdown structure, rate table, bar charts and seven periodic cost reports to monitor and control the construction costs effectively. This Project Report also presents a few other possible uses of SCCT, in addition to cost control. To ensure the timely availability of these periodic reports, a method of computerizing this technique has also been outlined in this report.

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