6.2 Hypothesis Question 2 Discussion – Is the Level of Participation Greater in the
6.2.1 NEC3 survey responses
The Variables 6–9 of the questionnaire were obtained from (Barnes et al., 2013a).
Variable 6: “Clause 10.1 Actions – The Employer, the Contractor and the Service Manager shall act as stated in this contract and in the spirit of mutual trust and cooperation”.
Private sector: most of the respondents, 80.64% (agree = 51.61% and strongly agree = 29.03%) answered in the affirmative. M = 3.81 in relation to a maximum of 5, SD = 1.23 and Mdn = 4 and n = 31. The reference scale used for the M and Mdn for this variable is closer to 5 indicates most of the respondents agree and closer to 1 means they disagree.
Public sector: most of the respondents, 83.33% (agree = 50% and strongly agree = 33.33%) answered in the affirmative. M = 3.83 in relation to a maximum of 5, SD = 1.34 and Mdn = 4 and n = 12. The reference
scale used for M and Mdn for this variable is closer to 5 indicates most of the respondents agree and closer to 1 means they disagree.
Variable 7: “Clause 16.1 Early warning – The Contractor and the Service Manager give an early warning by notifying the other as soon as either becomes aware of any matter which could increase the total of the Prices”.
Private sector: most of the respondents, 87.1% (agree = 25.81% and strongly agree = 61.29%) answered in the affirmative. M = 1.65 in relation to a maximum of 5, SD = 1.03 and Mdn = 1 and n = 31. The reference scale used for the M and Mdn for this variable is closer to 1 indicates most of the respondents agree and closer to 5 means they disagree.
Public sector: most of the respondents, 91.66% (agree = 33.33% and strongly agree = 58.33%) answered in the affirmative. M = 1.58 in relation to a maximum of 4, SD = 0.86 and Mdn = 1 and n = 12. The reference scale used for M and Mdn for this variable is closer to 1 indicates most of the respondents agree and closer to 4 means they disagree.
Variable 8: “Clause 16.1 Early warning – The Contractor and the Service Manager give an early warning by notifying the other as soon as either becomes aware of any matter which could interfere with the timing of the service”.
Private sector: most of the respondents, 90.32% (agree = 35.48% and strongly agree = 54.84%) answered in the affirmative. M = 1.65 in relation to a maximum of 5, SD = 0.93 and the Mdn = 1 and n = 31. The reference scale used for M and Mdn for this variable is closer to 1 indicates most of the respondents agree and closer to 5 means they disagree.
Public sector: most of the respondents, 91.66% (agree = 33.33% and strongly agree = 58.33%) answered in the affirmative. M = 1.5 in relation to a maximum of 3, SD = 0.65 and Mdn = 1 and n = 12. The reference scale used for M and Mdn for this variable is closer to 1 indicates most of the respondents agree and closer to 3 means they disagree.
Variable 9: “Clause 16.1 Early warning – The Contractor and the Service Manager give an early warning by notifying the other as soon as either becomes aware of any matter which could impair the effectiveness of the service”.
Private sector: most of the respondents, 90.32% (agree = 29.03% and strongly agree = 61.29%) answered in the affirmative. M = 1.55 in relation to a maximum of 4, SD = 0.84 and Mdn = 1 and n = 31. The reference scale used for M and Mdn for this variable is closer to 1 indicates most of the respondents agree and closer to 4 means they disagree.
Public sector: all the respondents, 100% (agree = 41.67% and strongly agree = 58.33%) answered in the affirmative. M = 1.42 in relation to a maximum of 2, SD = 0.49 and Mdn = 1 and n = 12. The reference scale used for M and Mdn for this variable is closer to 1 indicates most of the respondents agree and closer to 2 means they disagree.
Variables 7–9 are clauses within the NEC3 contract that either party could use to initiate a contractual meeting for the reasons it was intended. When reviewing the averages of this data, it is clear that on average the public sector (average of 91.66%) scores higher than the private sector (average of 87.095%) in terms of positive responses. The average of the measure of central tendency, using the mean, is approximately the same with the private sector scoring slightly higher at 2.165% than the public sector at 2.0825%.
The average Mdn for both groups is 1.
Of importance to note is that these clauses are used to inform parties and initiate meetings or discussions. Examples of the kind of risks associated with the type of correspondence are schedule risks-delays, contractual risk- change order, performance risk-poor performance, subcontractors, other risks, risk of failure and price risk-cost (Davison & Sebastian, 2009).
Although the information is still relevant, it is not a reliable measure of the levels of participation for either party.
The following variables, Variables 10–12, are questions that were based on the NEC3 contract clauses, Variables 6–9. The questions were constructed
to demonstrate if there was additional time and cost impact as well as collaboration between the parties.
Variable 10: “Based on Q7, clause 16.1, were there additional costs incurred?”.
Private sector: most of the respondents, 87.1% (agree = 48.39% and strongly agree = 38.71%) answered in the affirmative. M = 1.84 in relation to a maximum of 5, SD = 0.92 and Mdn = 2 and n = 31. The reference scale used for the M and Mdn for this variable is closer to 1 indicates most of the respondents agree and closer to 5 means they disagree.
Public sector: most of the respondents, 75% (agree = 41.67% and strongly agree = 33.33%) answered in the affirmative. M = 2.17 in relation to a maximum of 5, SD = 1.21 and Mdn = 2 and n = 12. The reference scale used for M and Mdn for this variable is closer to 1 indicates most of the respondents agree and closer to 5 means they disagree.
Variable 11: “Based on Q8. clause 16.1, was there additional time granted as per the contract?”.
Private sector: most of the respondents, 74.2% (agree = 48.39% and strongly agree = 25.81%) answered in the affirmative. M = 2.23 in relation to a maximum of 5, SD = 1.13 and Mdn = 2 and n = 31. The reference scale used for M and Mdn for this variable is closer to 1 indicates most of the respondents agree and closer to 5 means they disagree.
Public sector: most of the respondents, 66.66% (agree = 33.33% and strongly agree = 33.33%) answered in the affirmative. M = 2.33 in relation to a maximum of 5, SD = 1.31 and Mdn = 2 and n = 12. The reference scale used for M and Mdn for this variable is closer to 1 indicates most of the respondents agree and closer to 5 means they disagree.
Variable 12: “Based on Q9, clause 16.1, did the client assist in mitigating the risk/take action?”.
Private sector: most of the respondents, 67.74% (agree = 48.39% and strongly agree = 19.35%) answered in the affirmative. M = 2.39 in relation to a maximum of 4, SD = 1.07 and Mdn = 2 and N = 31. The reference scale used for M and Mdn for this variable is closer to 1 indicates most of the respondents agree and closer to 4 means they disagree.
Public sector: most of the respondents, 75% (agree = 41.67% and strongly agree = 33.33%) answered in the affirmative. M = 2.08 in relation to a maximum of 4, SD = 1.04 and Mdn = 2 and N = 12. The reference scale used for M and Mdn for this variable is closer to 1 indicates most of the respondents agree and closer to 5 means they disagree.
When reviewing the averages of this data, it is seen that on average the public sector (72.22%) scores lower than the private sector (76.346%) in terms of positive responses. The average of the measure of central tendency, using the mean, is approximately the same with the private sector scoring slightly lower at 2.153% than the public sector at 2.1933%. The average Mdn for both groups is 2.
The response by parties with regards to Variable 12 is of interest. The private sector positive response is 67.74% and the public sector is 75%. This difference indicates that the private sector has the perception that their client in the public sector is not as eager to assist in resolving problems or mitigating risks. On the other hand, the higher positive response rate of the public sector indicates that the contractor (private sector) is more willing to assist in risk mitigation and resolving problems.