Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

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

Oyo 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 project cost performance, particularly within Oyo 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 project cost performance. 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 project cost performance in Oyo State.
2. To assess the extent to which bill of quantities preparation practices influences project cost performance within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with bill of quantities preparation practices in relation to project cost performance.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing bill of quantities preparation practices in order to improve project cost performance.

1.4 Research Questions

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

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 project cost performance. For managers and practitioners within Oyo 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 project cost performance within the context of Oyo 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.