Evaluation of the Resource Leveling Techniques Employed by Contractors in the Kenyan Construction Industry
Shadrack Mutungi Simon
Shadrack Mutungi Simon, Department of Construction Management, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Juja, Kenya.
Manuscript received on 17 January 2018 | Revised Manuscript received on 26 January 2018 | Manuscript Published on 30 January 2018 | PP: 8-12 | Volume-7 Issue-4, January 2018 | Retrieval Number: D2483017418/18©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: The purpose of this research was to identify and evaluate the various resource leveling techniques employed by contractors in the Kenyan construction industry. The researcher adopted a survey research design whereby questionnaires were distributed among contractors. A response rate of 76% was achieved. The three most popular Resource Leveling techniques employed by contractors were found to be fast tracking, Microsoft Project and authorizing overtime. The three least popular Resource Leveling techniques were found to be splitting tasks into non-sequential pieces, delaying critical path tasks and doing nothing. The three most effective Resource Leveling techniques as experienced by contractors were found to be fast tracking, Microsoft Project and substituting resource of equal or greater capability. The three least effective Resource Leveling techniques were found to be extending critical path tasks, delaying critical path tasks and doing nothing. Contractors were generally found to be aware of the different available options for Resource Leveling. The techniques found to be least effective in practice are theoretically known to have the highest negative impact on the project schedule. This reinforces the idea that contractors are not only aware of the various resource leveling techniques existing in theory but also understand their effects on the project performance.
Keyword: Resource Leveling, Construction, Contractors
Scope of the Article: Construction Engineering