Life cycle costing in construction projects : professional quantity surveyors’ perspective

Studies on life-cycle costing (LCC) in private finance initiatives (PFI)/public-private partnership (PPP) projects abound, particularly in the UK. But, there is a limited empirical study on the factors influencing the usage of LCC outside PFI/PPP context from professional quantity surveyors perspective. The purpose of this study is to identify the barriers to greater use of LCC and explore the factors responsible for professional quantity surveyors’ disposition to LCC usage in construction projects outside PFI/PPP context in the UK. The primary data were collected through a questionnaire survey administered to professional quantity surveyors working in consultancy practices of varying sizes in the UK. The data obtained were analysed using frequency distribution, relative significant index (RSI), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Posthoc test. The study identified eleven barriers influencing the usage of LCC outside PPPs context. Thus, the five highest ranked barriers include: lack of fiscal measures that encourage clients’ use of LCC; clients are unwilling to pay for LCC; incompatibility with client's intangible or non-financial objectives and needs; difficulty in obtaining the appropriate, relevant and reliable information and data; and clients do not request for LCC. The study further revealed that the majority of professional quantity surveyors are not directly involved in the use of LCC in their organisations. This study would be beneficial as knowledge of the factors influencing the professional quantity surveyors’ disposition to LCC usage would enlighten quantity surveyors, clients and other stakeholders in the construction industry