Client perception of engineering and construction services management in present-day Iraq: An exploratory study and assessment

In Iraq, with unique cultural practices and perceptions, engineering and construction services companies’ policies drive clients’ perceptions and satisfaction. The problem this study addressed was that of determining clients’ perceptions that are relevant in building successful relationships between clients and contractors. Currently there are gaps in our knowledge in this area. Contractors who plan to invest in Iraq will be helped if these gaps are reduced prior to their making decisions on investing in the country. Research questions addressed the nature of trust and confidence between clients and contractors in terms of contractors’ innovation policies, construction codes, the quality of construction materials that are used in construction projects in Iraq and linguistic abilities needed. Concepts from Deming’s synergistic relationships, Juran’s organizational management, and Feigenbaum’s quality control principles, practices, and management provided theoretical foundations for this study. The study employed an empirical qualitative method. Data collection involved sending survey questionnaires with open-ended questions to selected respondents in Iraq. Data analysis strategies included identification of key words and phrases used in answering these questions and grouping them according to their context in order to obtain emergent themes that are peculiar to subject of perception. Findings showed that most Iraqi clients have (a) positive perceptions toward innovation, (b) use of foreign materials, (c) use of building codes, and (d) use of multilingual workers while executing their projects. The social implication of this study is significant in the improvement of engineering and construction services technology used in Iraq that will facilitate recovery efforts for a nation with an impoverished economic status caused by detrimental political instabilities and wars.