Managing employers' requirements in construction industry : experiences and challenges

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore existing problems and potential solutions of managing Employers' Requirements in the project development process of construction projects under traditional procurement systems. Design/methodology/approach: Two research instruments are used: semi-structured interview and questionnaire survey, to investigate the problems and potential solutions to Requirements Management in the construction industry. Findings: The research revealed that Requirements Management is crucial to the successful delivery of construction projects. However, the current practice of Requirements Management in the industry is informal and there is a lack of a systematic approach to tackle the problems. The authors also propose potential solutions to Requirements Management as well as a vision for further research. Practical implications: The paper presents the problems of managing Employers' Requirements, and the potential solutions to improve the Requirements Management process that need to be addressed. Originality/value: The paper improves one's comprehension of the nature, characteristics, problems and potential solutions of Requirements Management in the project development process under the traditional procurement systems in the construction industry, relevant to both practitioners and scholars. A model is proposed as a "preliminary framework" to show the processes involved.