CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
The term Built Environment refers to human made surroundings that provide the settings for human activities, ranging from buildings and parks or green space to neighborhood and cities with their supporting infrastructures such as water supply and energy works. The built environment is a material, spatial and cultural product of human labor that combines physical elements and energy in form of living, working and playing. Thus, the phrase "built environment" refers to the more stationary "Products of human building activity. It refers in the broadest sense to any physical alteration of the natural environment, from hearths to cities, through construction by humans" (Lawrence and Low, 1990: 454-455). Built environments include not only buildings, but also rooms and interiors within buildings, shrines or temples, and defined, but not necessarily enclosed spaces (such as streets or plazas) (Lawrence and Low 1990:454).
According to(Aminu Garba 2012)The term, Built Environment is used to describe interdisciplinary field that addresses the design, construction, management and use of these man made surroundings as an interrelated whole as well as their relationship to human activities over time.
Drawing directly from the current draft version of the International Labour Organization‘s International Standard Classification of Occupations, ISCO-08, the built environment professions are included in two main categories of professionals: ‘Engineering professionals’ and ‘Architects, planners, surveyors and designers‘. The main category under engineering is civil engineering. Other engineering categories that are relevant in the ISCO classification are environmental engineering and mechanical engineering, where this relates to building and infrastructure services. The second relevant ISCO category includes architects, landscape architects, town and traffic planners and cartographers and Estate surveyors (ILO, 2007).
The professionals involve with the design, construction and maintenance of the built environment are referred as ‘Built Environment Professional’. The professionals include Architect, Builder, Estate Surveyor & Valuer, Quantity Surveyor, Town Planner and Engineer. The major pre-occupation of the built environment professionals is property development(ESV BIODUN 2004).
Looking at “The Built Environment” and what it entails in view of its interdisciplinary professions, this research keys on studying and developing methodologies to eliminate the friction that exist between the professions in the build environments in respect to their activities carried out so as to create a perfectly functioning joint venture comprising of all the major players in the built environments.
The built environment, defined by the facilities and civil infrastructure systems that people use, is the fundamental foundation upon which a society exists, develops, and survives. As the main provider and the life cycle custodian of the built environment, the Architect, Estate Manager, Urban and Regional planner, Quantity Surveyor, Builders and Engineers(Structural,Eletrical,Civil etc.)all play a critical role in determining the quality, integrity, and longevity of this built structures.
According to lectures on “Interactions of the built environment professionals in real estate service delivery”(ESV BIODUN 2004), the major pre-occupation of the built environment professionals is Property Development. Property development can be likened to any other industrial production process that involves the combination of various inputs in order to achieve an output or product. In the case of property development, the product is a change of land use and/or a new or altered building in a process that combines land, labour, materials and finance.
However, property development is complex, often taking place over a considerable time frame. The end product is unique, either in terms of its physical characteristics and/or its location.
Development is defined by the Town and Country Planning Act, Cap. 240 as “the carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under any land, the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land or the sub-division of land”. Property development is a multifaceted process wherebyland, labour, materials and finance are combined to produce real estate or property.
The exponential growth of the world population and the increasing rate at which societies are urbanizing presents a monumental challenge to all major cities,particularly that of the developing world therebyleading to an increased need for rapid real estate development to accommodate the ever growing urban population.
The high rate of population explosion which requires high quality environmental management and property/ real estate development is only realizable when expert and professionals in the built environment and their role are appreciated.
“Who are involved in the production of real estate (Property Development)?”
There are five categories of people who are involved in the production of real estate. This includes:
Client / investor
Government agencies
Financial institutions
Professional team
Suppliers of building materials
1.1.0The professional team
The development process is wide and varied, therefore interdisciplinary in nature; the majority of developers do not have the skills and expertise which is a very crucial part of the entire development project. As a result, developers have to engage various professionals in ultimately executing and advising them at various stages of the development process depending on their needs; these include the following listed below.
The professional team in the built environment typically includes:
· Architecture
· Estate Manager
· Urban and Regional planner
· Quantity Surveyor
· Builders
· Engineers (Structural, Electrical, Civil etc.)
1.1 PROBLEM STATEMENT
...Within every business environment, interpersonal friction is inevitable( Melnick 2017)
In spite of the magnitude of the problem of the friction caused through the various professions in the built environment thereby limiting effectiveness and efficiency of the various practitioners and in some cases leading to the non-accomplishment of laid down common goals and objectives, there has been little research carried out to this end.
It turns out conflict isn’t always bad. In fact, psychologically it can be extremely positive, especially in a team environment. In reality, conflict exists as a natural and inevitable part of every relationship(CAMPBELL 2014)
It has made it clear and non-alien to us that these frictions would also exist in the day to day interaction between the professions of the built environment earlier stated.
The research is appropriate at this time because of the effect of such failures; some of which are published. Sadly others are not, but they do affect the building construction industry by delaying, hindering and in some cases undermining the accomplishment of laid down objectiveswhile affecting the economy in the aspect of real estate development.
1.2 AIM OF STUDY
The aim of this research work from the inherent problems above stated leading up to this research would be to investigation into the factors influencing professional working associations in the built environment.
1.3 OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the research is to examine the formation of joint ventures in Nigeria, especially to study joint ventures formation procedures and also:
· Identification of the factors that contributes towards effective working associations in the built environment professions
· To rank the factors that affect professional working associations in the built environment
· To determine the extent of involvement of various key professionals in the development process
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY (IMPORTANCE)
The result of this research study would be of importance to aid the formation of joint ventures between the professions of the built environment with ease and timeliness and also help in proffering a solution to the previous problems of arising friction in the working of these professions as separate bodies and also present the professions a structure\vehicle on which the running of the joint ventures would be governed. The accomplishment of this would lead to greater effectiveness in the accomplishment of common goals and the improvement of the provided infrastructural amenities people and communities have access to.
The study also clearly outlined the steps and processes to be followed to create effectively functional joint venture and the challenges of joint ventures and how to overcome those challenges.
1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY
This research study covers the professions and area of expertise in the built environment only, without branching out to look into ancillary professions with secondary or tertiary relations of support to those in the built environment.
The study revolves around the need to facilitate frictionless relationships within the professions of the built environment so as to achieve common laid down goals and objectives which involves creating an avenue for the provision of more infrastructural facilities ranging from well-planned out and perfectly engineered building,bridges,roads etc. for the use of the people living in the built environment; efficiently and at the right time and reasonable costs
1.6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
· What are the factors that contribute towards effective working associations in the built environment professions?
· What are the factors that affect professional working associations in the built environment looked at in order of preference?
· What is theextent of involvement of various key professionals in the development process?
· What are therisks associated with and challenges facing working associations embarked on in Nigeria (issues surrounding purpose, creation and effective running of a joint venture)?
1.7. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
H0: There are no factors influencing professional working association in Nigerian organizations.
H1: There are factors influencing professional working association in Nigerian organizations.
1.8 LIMITATIONS OF STUDY
Several hurdles were encountered in the course of carrying out this research study which are outlined as follows:
· Lack of enough references such as previous relating studies, texts or articles on which one could derive a ideas
· Shortage of access to research materials within the school and faculty premises
· Insufficient funds available to carry out some processes involved in the course of the research
· Lack of technical know-how to go about obtaining concrete information from firms of practitioners in the built environment profession
· My deficient knowledge in preparation of properly suited questionnaires for the purpose of achieving my goal of obtaining information on the examples of friction that arises in the day to day working and interactions of theses professional bodies involved.
1.9 DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS
· Built environment: The term Built Environment refers to the structures, surroundings and infrastructure that are made by man to create for his basic activities, ranging from simple housing, large scale civic buildings to entire cities and their supporting infrastructure. The Built Environment (BE) professions refer to the operations of the practitioners that help shape the Built Environment. The range of careers in the sector is broad given the various subsectors. Practitioners include professionals like Architects, Environmental Consultants, Builders/Civil Engineers, Facilities Managers, Project Developers, Quantity Surveyors, Urban and regional Planners.
· Friction: The term Friction in the context of this study refers to obstacles that may arise to oppose the professional working relationships between two or more parties involved in achieving a common goal.
· Ancillary: An Ancillaryis something or someone that is saddled with providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization, system, etc.
· RIMAN (Risk management association of Nigeria): This body is saddled with the responsibilities of assessing and managing risks of businesses in Nigeria which are registered under them.
RIMAN collaborates with regulatory authorities in policy advancement to ensure best practices in the financial and non-financial industries.
· Working associations: In the context of this thesis working associations is seen to be various associations and interactions that are necessary to be carried out between professionals from the varying fields of the built environment while carrying out a development project to reach a common laid down goal.
· Professionalism: The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines professionalism as “the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or make a profession or a professional person”, and it defines a profession as “a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation”.
· Expertise: Basis of credibility of a person who is perceived to be knowledgeable in an area or topic due to his or her study, training, or experience in the subject matter.
Can't find what you are looking for? Hire A Researchproject Writer To Work On Your Topic or Call 0806-703-7559.
Proceed to Hire a Writer »