Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between procurement method selection and timeliness of project delivery has become a subject of considerable debate among scholars and industry practitioners alike, particularly within the context of Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa where operating conditions differ markedly from more developed markets.

Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa 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 procurement method selection is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on timeliness of project delivery within Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa 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 procurement method selection are helping or hindering timeliness of project delivery — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Procurement Method Selection on timeliness of project delivery in Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa.
2. To assess the extent to which procurement method selection influences timeliness of project delivery within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with procurement method selection in relation to timeliness of project delivery.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing procurement method selection in order to improve timeliness of project delivery.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of procurement method selection on timeliness of project delivery in Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa?
2. To what extent does procurement method selection influence timeliness of project delivery within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with procurement method selection in relation to timeliness of project delivery?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize procurement method selection in order to improve timeliness of project delivery?

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 Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa seeking to understand how procurement method selection translates into measurable outcomes around timeliness of project delivery. 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 Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing specifically on how procurement method selection relates to timeliness of project delivery within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.