Measures to improve subcontracting SMMEs’ ability to deliver government-funded construction projects within set project requirements in Tri-Star Construction (Pty) Ltd

Abstract

This study set out to investigate measures of improving subcontracting SMMEs’ ability to deliver government-funded construction projects within set project schedule, set project budget, and requisite quality within Tri-Star Construction (Pty) Ltd. It was estimated that 90% of government-funded construction projects within Tri-Star experienced time delays, cost overruns and quality failures. Subcontracting SMMEs’ inability was seen as the major cause. Thus, the primary research question answered was: how can the ability of subcontracting SMMEs to deliver government-funded construction projects within set project requirements in Tri-Star Construction be improved? Three secondary research questions were answered. The first was, how can the ability of subcontracting SMMEs to deliver government-funded construction projects within set project schedule in Tri-Star Construction be improved? The second was, how can the ability of subcontracting SMMEs to deliver government-funded construction projects within set project cost in Tri-Star Construction be improved? The final one was, how can the ability of subcontracting SMMEs to deliver government-funded construction projects within requisite project quality in Tri-Star Construction be improved? A quantitative research approach, with which the theory reviewed could be tested, was preferred for its generalizability to the population of 392 staff members. A sample survey and a survey questionnaire were used as the data collection methodology and the data collection method respectively. Consequently, a sample size of 41 staff members was chosen from a sampling frame of 86 staff members using a systematic sampling technique. In the end, 24 responses could be analysed using the split-half method of internal consistency and Pearson’s correlation which tested item reliability. It was found in the main that subcontracting SMMEs needed to improve their ability to manage schedule, cost and quality. An integrated strategy built around specific time, cost and quality management measures, derived from the study’s findings, were recommended as part of the company’s improvement strategy, thereby assisting the subcontracting SMMEs and thus solving the research problem.