Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between bill of quantities preparation practices and construction cost overrun has become a subject of considerable debate among scholars and industry practitioners alike, particularly within the context of Delta State where operating conditions differ markedly from more developed markets.

Delta 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

Despite a growing body of literature on bill of quantities preparation practices, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with construction cost overrun, particularly within Delta State. Many organizations continue to make decisions about bill of quantities preparation practices without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect construction cost overrun. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Bill of Quantities Preparation Practices on construction cost overrun in Delta 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 Delta 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

Beyond its academic contribution to the field of quantity surveying, this study has practical value for management teams within Delta State seeking to understand how bill of quantities preparation practices translates into measurable outcomes around construction cost overrun. It is equally useful to students and future researchers looking for a localized empirical reference on this relationship.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Delta State, focusing specifically on how bill of quantities preparation practices relates to construction cost overrun within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.