Barriers and the success factors for the implementation of the NEC within the civil engineering industry of South Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: After its introduction in 1993, the use of the NEC is still limited in the civil engineeringindustry of South Africa. The benefits of the NEC however appear to be promising. Thisresearch identifies the barriers of a NEC adoption. Moreover, in order to recommendstrategies and measures to achieve a better NEC adoption, required success factors fora NEC implementation are investigated. Beneficial insights for South Africa are gainedfrom the Dutch UAV-GC introduction experiences.A literature study is conducted to define the research needs and focus. Both contractsare analysed and compared. These findings are then used to validate the assumedadvantages of the NEC by correlating them to the contract content. Subsequently, expertinterviews are conducted in which the advantages, disadvantages, barriers for adoptionand success factors for implementation of the NEC are explored. Interviews with sevenSouth African experts also contained a short-questionnaire. The short-questionnairegave a quantitative context as validation for the qualitative advantages. In addition,three interviews with Dutch experts were conducted. In this manner the Dutch UAVGCintroduction experiences were explored. In the research synthesis, findings from thevarious sources are validated. This is achieved through a comparison of the differentmethods applied in the study.The barriers identified as the main cause of obstruction to the NEC adoption are a lack ofknowledge, understanding, education, effective training courses and skills in procurementstrategy, contract management and general project management. Furthermore, there isa resistance from industry because of the preference for the South African contractforms. Another resistance is from employers, due to the desire for some grey area intheir contract form.Principal success factors necessary for the implementation of the NEC are education,training, promotion, and a proper understanding of the NEC as well as its philosophyand benefits. Consequently, a culture change towards collaborations would be necessary. In addition employers must apply and improve their procurement strategies. As a result,the NEC would be identified as their best tool for procurement. A helpful success factor,extracted from the Dutch experience, is the requirement for knowledge sharing betweengovernmental bodies in order to guide innovations.For optimum industry performance by the more frequent use of the NEC, this researchhas resulted in the following recommendations:• The industry should not be afraid to question tradition and to initiate the requiredcultural change towards increasing collaboration• An inuential South African institute should take responsibility for the promotion,monitoring and training of the NEC• Educate students on the NEC and other contracts based on all possible procurementstrategies• An adoption strategy should be applied for inexperienced NEC parties• NEC should be used as the stimulator for improvement of South African projectmanagement practices in construction projects• Organize regular knowledge sharing meetings between governmental departmentsto stimulate and improve innovations• Employers should improve their procurement practices.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University