ASSESSMENT OF THE COMPETENCIES OF NIGERIAN QUANTITY SURVEYORS AS ARBITRATORS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Abstract

In the quest to become qualified quantity (QS) surveyor, arbitration is one of the courses a quantity surveyor must study. This gives QS the basic foundation needed to practice arbitration. This research mainly examined the competencies of Nigeria QS to function effectively in arbitration with a view in assessing the important competencies viz-a-viz evidence-in-use of these competencies by practicing QSs. A review of related literature followed by in-depth interviews of ten selected experienced arbitration practitioners yielded twenty-three defined competencies that were presented in a structured questionnaire. The twenty-three competencies generated were mostly those mentioned at least twice by the interviewee. The structured questionnaire was in two stages. The first was distributed amongst forty practicing arbitrators of diverse disciplines to elicit the important competencies while the second were distributed amongst 100 practicing quantity surveyors to ascertain the evidence-in-use of the listed competencies. The academic curricula of Universities and Polytechnics in Lagos State were examined. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Mean item scores were used to rank the important competencies and proficiency exhibited by quantity surveyors; gap and quadrant analysis were employed to identify the competencies that are lagging and required bridging through continuous professional development (CPD) and training; Man-Withney U and Kruskal Wallis tests statistical methods were used to test if there are differences in sample means of different groups of respondents. The research revealed that all the suggested and listed competences are important to arbitration since all were ranked above average (3.68 – 4.64 on a 5 point scale); the level of evidence-in-use of these competencies by quantity surveyors ranked all the competencies high except ‘relevant certificate in arbitration’ which was rated low (2.72). The study also revealed that at the undergraduate level, quantity surveying curriculum are not fully satisfactory in addressing arbitration. Personal competencies were found to have the highest ranking relative to the technical competencies. The research advocate that quantity surveyors should participate in CPD, special training and workshops in order to close the identified performance gaps especially law related competence like contract drafting and agreement arbitration. This important competence have the highest gap (1.44). All arbitration disputes within the country must commence and be concluded in Nigeria.