Project management consultant (PMC) in Sudanese construction industry

Abstract

The construction industry in Sudan has recently grown very fast with the construction of new projects. Due to the rapid expansion in the construction industry, the services provided by the consultants need to be improved in terms of performance and quality of work to meet the construction project goals and objective and also the clients satisfaction. One of management solutions that have been widely used to improve efficiency of a project is through the use of Project Management Consultant (PMC) services. The use of Project Management Consultant (PMC) services have increased even though the practice of using PMC services is new in Sudan. However, the services provided by Project Management Consultants have recently raised several issues and problems that are discussed and listed in Sudanese Engineers Conference in 2008, which they are a steady decline in consultant services in project delivery interim of quality of work carried out by consultant, coordination, operation, function and performance outputs regarding to standards and specifications of construction project delivery, which its effect on the firms productivity , increase the total cost, duration of projects, quality of work carried out, and finally on firms profits. A study is carried out to study the services provided by the Project Management Consultant (PMC), identify the methods of selection of the Project Management Consultants by the clients, to identify the problems faced by Project Management Consultants in project implementation, and to determine the level of satisfaction of client regarding the services provided by the Project Management Consultant. The study is carried out in Khartoum Sudan. A total of thirty four (34) questionnaires were distributed to the respondents comprising of engineers, quantity surveyors and the clients. Interviews with the clients were also conducted. The data is analyzed using the average index. From the study, it was found that the scope of services provided by PMC is categorized in 3 stages namely the Pre-contract stage, Post-contract stage and the Post-completion stage. The appointment of the PMC is selected mainly through Political influence in awarding contracts, Selection base on previous work performed in past projects, Selection base on the reputation of firms, and Calling for tenders. The problems faced by the PMC are Uncompleted/unclear need statement by Clients, problem of too many projects in hand, unclear work procedure, and Poor coordination between PMC staff. The level of clients satisfaction is less Satisfied.