Examining the emerging career trajectories in quantity surveying in Ghana
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Date
November, 2015.
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Abstract
The Quantity surveying career has been revitalized during the last few years since developing
demands for building and variations in the business and the building procedure bid both trials and
chances. In Ghana, the profession has reacted to the increasing demands of clients and the public
with the emergence of new career trajectories to enable the profession be more valuable in offering
extended services. This study therefore purports to examine the emerging career trajectories in the
Ghanaian Quantity Surveying Profession with the view to establishing the different aspects of these
career trajectories within the Ghanaian profession, also to determine the level of adaptation within
the construction industry and its effects on the professional and lastly the challenges associated with
its emergence. Qualitative and quantitative research approaches were used in tandem. Using a
triangulation of survey, interviews and observations and a simple random sampling technique, data
was collected from 75 professionals who have had considerable experience in the field of quantity
surveying. The study revealed among others that there are emerging career trajectories such as
investment appraisal, procurement services, whole life costing, risk management, value
management, facility management, project management, environmental services and costing,
technical auditing, sustainability advisors and sub contract administration. Although these emerging
career trajectories have been adapted within the construction industry there are however shortages
of competencies in some areas such as investment appraisal, environmental services and costing and
sustainability advisors. The effect of these services has had positive impressions on the profession
as professionals have become more valuable and competent in the rendering of services. However,
there are challenges associated with such career paths such as the role of leadership and the
competency level of the professional within these emerging trajectories. Informed recommendations
such as strategy partnership with countries that has developed these emerging trends, training and
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development in areas of low competencies level i.e sustainability advisors, environmental services
and cost and investment appraisal are encouraged. The profession should also be customer focus
since the client satisfaction is the ultimate aim in our service.
Description
A thesis report submitted to the Department of Building Technology, College of Art and Built Environment, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Construction Management.
Keywords
Quantity surveying, Career trajectories, Competency, Construction, Ghana