Attitudes of owners which impedes firm's growth : a case of small and medium-sized construction firms in Ghana

Abstract: Construction Projects are often delivered under a complex and uncertain environment, with claims and conflict being an inevitable part. It is vital to manage claims and conflict as soon as possible before they turn into disputes. The intent of this paper is to investigate the effects and cost of construction dispute in construction projects in Swaziland. The data used in this study were derived from both primary and secondary sources. The secondary data for the study was derived from the review of literature. The primary data was obtained through the use of a questionnaire which was distributed to client (government), contractors and consultant representatives (quantity surveyor, civil engineer, architects, project managers and mechanical and electrical engineers), only organizations registered with the ministry of public work and transport in Swaziland and other professional bodies were surveyed. Findings enacting from the survey revealed that the major effects of construction disputes in Swaziland construction projects were loss of productivity, loss of company reputation, loss of business viability, loss of profitability. With respect to cost of disputes, the findings revealed that hidden cost; indirect cost; direct cost, were major factor for cost of disputes. The results of this study contribute to the body of knowledge and provide valuable insight to actual effects and cost of disputes in Swaziland construction projects, hence the effects are ugly. The study recommends that every stakeholder in the Swaziland construction industry familiarise themselves with the strategies of avoiding construction dispute to avoid the occurrence. Also the government must take up an initiative of educating all stakeholders about dispute avoidance, it would save the project and company fortunes