The impact of procurement methods on the Scottish housebuilding industry

The role for choice of suitable procurement method in the success of construction projects is becoming an increasingly important issue. Recently developed methods put an emphasis on achieving client's objectives as quickly as possible. The research presented in this paper investigates favoured procurement methods and the factors which influence their selection for house building in Scotland; making particular reference to client and contractor perspectives. Following a thorough review of both general construction procurement issues and those related in particular to Scottish housebuildings projects, an analysis of two live projects was carried out to collect real time information. In addition, a questionnaire survey of client adviser and contractor views was undertaken to validate the results. The outcomes and experience gained highlight the fact that many factors have an impact on the selection process. Speed and level of quality is the greatest factor followed by client experience, then the project nature, and finally level of risk and cost. The paper proposes a conceptual framework for understanding factors that are relevant in deciding whether a chosen procurement method is technically feasible.