Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Bill of Quantities Preparation Practices has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers, regulators, and practitioners concerned with construction cost overrun. This growing interest reflects the recognition that bill of quantities preparation practices does not operate in isolation, but interacts with a wider set of institutional and market conditions found within Imo State.

Imo State presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While bill of quantities preparation practices is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on construction cost overrun within Imo State remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to bill of quantities preparation practices are helping or hindering construction cost overrun — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Bill of Quantities Preparation Practices on construction cost overrun in Imo State.
2. To assess the extent to which bill of quantities preparation practices influences construction cost overrun within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with bill of quantities preparation practices in relation to construction cost overrun.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing bill of quantities preparation practices in order to improve construction cost overrun.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of bill of quantities preparation practices on construction cost overrun in Imo State?
2. To what extent does bill of quantities preparation practices influence construction cost overrun within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with bill of quantities preparation practices in relation to construction cost overrun?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize bill of quantities preparation practices in order to improve construction cost overrun?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around construction cost overrun. For managers and practitioners within Imo State, the study provides practical insight into how bill of quantities preparation practices can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on quantity surveying by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to an examination of Bill of Quantities Preparation Practices and its relationship with construction cost overrun within the context of Imo State. It reflects a clearly defined scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.