The effects of state's construction procurement policy implementation on the outcome of local construction projects : the Libyan case

El-Hasia, AM

Abstract

The successful execution of public construction projects and keeping them within estimated cost
and prescribed schedules, quality and satisfying policy goals depend on a methodology that requires
sound engineering and managerial judgment. This problem is more evident in the public traditional
or adversarial type of contracts in which the contract is awarded to the lowest bidder. Construction
procurement policy of public projects has been utilised by many countries as an important tool for
achieving economic, social, political and other objectives in developing all aspects of change in the
construction industry.
Although the construction industry in Libya has suffered ever since the UN sanctions, recent events
in the region coupled with the restructuring of the economy, lifting the sanctions and re-establishing
new relations with the developed world and global free trade organisations, and attracting foreign
investments are expected to yield an unprecedented growth in the construction activities. The
Libyan infrastructure is in desperate need for development projects in many areas, especially in the
fields of water collection and distribution, tourism and housing. As a result, an unprecedented
number of projects are currently under planning and contract awarding stages, which poses as a
potentially effective opportunity to drive for change in the construction industry and beyond.
This research is an insight of the issue of how construction procurement policies are made and how
they affect the outcome of a local public construction project in the current Libyan setting. This was
achieved by dividing the first theoretical part in to three pillars or elements of research concerned
with, Public policy in the context of construction procurement; Public Sector construction
procurement and Public Sector Projects Outcome to build a solid platform of a conceptual
knowledge before embarking on a case study investigation to give the required realistic background
to the scientific research.
Three case studies were selected based upon criteria drawn from the literature review. An intra and
cross case study analysis were carried out based mainly on projects' a review and analysis of
projects' documentation, but supported by questionnaires and an interviews for each project case
study, which enabled a process of contrast comparison, replication and interpretation of findings.
It was found that public construction procurement policy in the Libyan local context lacked clarity
in defining policy goals. Moreover, construction procurement is perceived as a contract strategy or
an arrangement, where by emphasis on the technical aspect was far greater than emphasis on other
related policy as a drive-for-change aspects. The policy of restricting the form of public projects
contracts made for hard to local public clients to embrace other procurement systems, which might
have been more beneficial to the outcome of projects in terms of satisfying policy goals. It appeared
that State bodies are more concerned with the administrative side of these projects. Technical and
project managerial aspects are usually left for their consultants, either public or private. This caused
a serious detachment of control and therefore difficulties and shortcomings in using the construction
procurement of local public projects as a policy tool.
The main findings of the analysis were based on taxonomy of documentary data collected in the
case studies, which assisted in generating conclusions linking back to the theory of the three
research elements mentioned above. Finally recommendations along the lines of enhancing
transparency, the communication process, the need for a comprehensive State guidelines and the
need for vocational education and training to participating State bodies were presented as an
attempt to inform and possibly assist academics and Libyan policy makers to achieve positive and
fruitful goals in local construction projects through good construction procurement policy making
and implementation.

Citation

El-Hasia, A. The effects of state's construction procurement policy implementation on the outcome of local construction projects : the Libyan case. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jul 26, 2011
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 26, 2011
• Award Date: Jan 1, 2005