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The adoption of value management (VM) has been on the rise in the construction industry, especially in the past decade. Identifying the main barriers to VM application for ameliorating poor project outcomes in the construction industry is a critical step to overcoming its implementation. Therefore, this study aims to examine the barriers to the adoption of VM in the Nigerian construction industry (NCI) and identify the critical ones for action by construction stakeholders.

This study used two rounds of Delphi surveys with 15 VM experts to identify the challenges to VM adoption. The Delphi team’s data from the two surveys were analysed using descriptive statistics. The mean-mode approach was used to identify ten major barriers to VM adoption based on the consensus reached during the second round of the Delphi poll. Following that, an interrater agreement analysis and a significant level analysis were performed.

Of the 17 identified barriers hindering VM adoption on construction projects in the NCI, 10 were found to be profound after statistical analyses of the data. The significant barriers include communication gap between the client and other consultants; delay in design preparation because of VM services; the pretext that VM is being practiced in the construction industry; and the wrong perception of VM by construction professionals, among others. The findings of the analysis suggested that the lack of VM adoption in the NCI was because of inadequate knowledge of VM techniques among construction professionals. Therefore, it is advised that VM training be provided for concerned stakeholders to address the lack of VM expertise among Nigerian construction professionals.

This study investigated the barriers to VM adoption on construction projects in the NCI with the opinions of a few construction professionals who can be regarded as VM experts. As against obtaining large survey responses from construction professionals who may not be knowledgeable in the VM process, the limited VM experts’ responses provide a valid basis for drawing inferences and making recommendations to address the paucity of VM applications in the NCI.

Through a Delphi survey, the critical barriers to the adoption of VM were identified, along with recommendations to help construction stakeholders overcome the challenges and enjoy the benefits of VM.

This first chapter of this book tends to bring into understanding the various definitions concepts, evolutions, characteristics and many more on smart cities. These are further explained across the other chapters of the book as to the roles and functionalities of smart cities in this modern world. This chapter starts with an introductory part that briefly describes what cities hold and the idea of inculcating smartness into it. Furthermore, various definitions were explicitly defined across other sections of the introduction. The objective of this book relates the reason and solution the book aims to offer into the construction industry as a system that is not only functional but also sustainable across various professionals of the construction industry. This chapter ends with concluding part that describes the totality of what have been discussed in the course of the chapter. The research book also contains reference for further reading.

Smart cities over the years is fast growing on people. Citizens and stakeholders that were defiant to its adoption are beginning to see the reasons for it. Due to one reason or the other, many of the stakeholders and the citizens were reluctant in seeing the vision in the smart city system. Some of these factors are expressed in the drivers and challenges faced in enhancing from a city to smart city. Along with these, measures and benefits that relate with smart city has helped in social and general awareness of what it represents and what stands to be gained if fully adopted. And this has helped in overall information available on smart city. The concluding part of the chapter gives a summary of the importance in addressing these drivers.

People will continue to migrate from rural to urban areas. This always results in congestion in the civilised part where there is contention for the resources available. Policies have to be made and implemented in order to counter scarcity and redundancy as most urban cities tend to halt in growth when population is beyond controllable size. Smart cities come into the frame by alleviating the present condition of the places to that which is convenient for everybody. Quality of life, meanings of smart cities, quality of life of smart cities citizens are the priorities when implementing smart city concepts into sustainable development.

The Nigerian construction industry is bedeviled with poor project performance and outcomes which value management (VM) could address if applied. The application of VM on Nigerian construction projects is very minimal due to certain obstacles, namely, lack of VM experts, paucity of knowledge on the techniques, etc., which inhibits the adoption into the construction industry. Therefore, this study aims to develop a conceptual framework of the adoption of VM on construction projects in a typical developing economy.

This study engaged 15 selected VM experts in two rounds of Delphi survey to develop a conceptual framework of VM adoption. The method of data analysis includes mean score, standard deviation, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance, chi-square (χ²) test, interrater agreement analysis and significant level analysis. The developed conceptual framework was sent to a team of local and international VM experts for validation.

This study reveals that the adoption of VM requires the collective effort of relevant stakeholders in the construction industry. The framework developed presents individual and collective activities to be undertaken by the stakeholders. The activities include training, legislation, government-funded research, etc. Thus, the adoption of innovative management methodology like VM requires the collaboration of academics, construction professional bodies and government parastatals. This will assist in the judicious use of limited construction resources and boost the relevance of the Nigerian construction industry among developing nations and in the global construction market.

This study used the opinions of few construction professionals that can be regarded as VM experts in Nigeria, as against engaging a pool of construction professionals who may not be knowledgeable in VM process. Engaging the few VM experts in the Nigerian construction industry is important to have a valid basis for drawing conclusion, as large questionnaire survey could be possibly filled by inexperienced or unqualified respondents if stringent criteria are not considered at the outset of this study.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of team members’ composition on cost and time of completion of construction projects in selected higher institutions with a view to improving construction project delivery in Nigeria.

The study used the purposive sampling technique to select two higher institutions out of six in the study area, and census survey was used in selecting 35 completed construction projects executed by the institutions within the time frame 2000 to 2013. A total of 191 questionnaires were distributed to obtain information from construction team members (quantity surveyors, architects, structural/civil engineers, services engineers, contractors and clients) who participated in the selected construction projects. Mean item score and Kendall’s test were used in examining team members’ composition, while the relationship between team members’ composition and construction cost and time was tested using t-test and eta-squared.

The results revealed that construction team members’ composition has a significant impact on the completion time of construction projects, though with small magnitude, while the impact of construction team members’ composition on construction cost is not significant. Also, it was revealed that some team members did not play any team role due to the fact that the main criterion for team members’ composition was knowledge, skill and abilities (KSA).

The study finally recommended that a deliberate effort should be made in studying and ascertaining the team role every construction team member will play before appointing them to be member of a team, as improper team members’ composition could hamper effective construction project delivery in terms of completion time.

The study is an attempt to discourage the traditional construction team members’ selection system which was based on KSAs, which is deficient under team environment.

The purpose of this paper is to examine construction bonds, which is a risk management tool for ensuring that projects are delivered successfully, with emphasis on the influence of stakeholders, project characteristics and bonding decision factors.

Using case study of completed public building projects, questionnaires were administered on stakeholders that participated in the projects to solicit information on identified issues. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to examine relationship among identified factors, and various model selection and validation tests were carried out to arrive at the best-fit model.

The final model revealed that type of bond, stakeholders’ influence, project characteristics, risks of bonded projects and bonding decision factors have significant effect on success of bonded construction projects. Of the stakeholders, guarantors and contractors have greater influence on effective administration of bonds.

The study was limited to Lagos and Ondo states, Nigeria. Data were gathered from clients of public projects, banks and insurance companies (guarantors), as well as contracting, quantity surveying and architectural firms registered with the state governments. This is because of the fact that only such firms can be engaged on projects emanating from the governments.

To enhance project success, there is a need to adopt construction bond for both public and private projects as against the current practice where it is only mandated for public projects.

Using SEM, this research examined administration of construction bonds with a view to ascertaining their effects on projects success, thereby providing relevant empirical information for stakeholders for effective administration of construction bond.

This paper aims to assess the drivers of value management (VM) in the Nigerian construction industry with a view to identify the critical ones through Delphi study.

A team of 15 carefully selected experts in VM were engaged in two rounds of Delphi survey, and the responses of the survey were analyzed with descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation and mode). Kendall’s coefficient of concordance test and Chi-square (χ²) test were also used to test the level of consensus amongst the respondents at the two rounds of the survey to draw inference. Interrater agreement analysis and significant level analysis were further used to determine the criticality of critical drivers.

The critical drivers to VM adoption are adequate understanding of the benefits of VM, higher/postgraduate programme that teaches VM technique, professional’s previous experience with VM, collaboration of all construction professional bodies in Nigeria and VM training.

This paper used opinions of VM experts only to achieve the aim of this study as against the common survey method in which respondents who are not knowledgeable in the area of research might fill the questionnaire.

In their delivery of service, quantity surveyors are not in any way protected against threats and changes in their operating environment as a result of globalisation and continuous change in demand of clients. This research therefore examined the current and important areas of competencies of Nigerian quantity surveyors in their quest to continue to provide value for money for their clients.

Primary data were collected through administration of questionnaires on quantity surveyors that are members of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS). Mean item score (MIS) was used to rank required and exhibited competencies while gap and quadrant analyses were employed to evaluate their importance and proficiency level.

Core competencies required of quantity surveyors are costing of construction works; valuation; estimating and tendering; and procurement management while valuation; estimating and tendering; and costing of construction works are top three competencies currently exhibited. There is significant difference in the level of importance of the competencies areas compared to their exhibition by quantity surveyors.

It was noted that some important areas of competencies are not currently exhibited by quantity surveyors in the study area, there is therefore the need for personal and collective continuous development through workshops, conferences and seminars that will enhance the identified competencies areas. Training of undergraduates and retraining of practicing quantity surveyors is also essential to inculcate competencies that are not currently exhibited. This will benefit quantity surveyors and bodies concerned with the regulation of the profession in their quest for better service delivery.