Abstract
Background: Improvement of quality is a crucial factor in the execution of telecommunication tower projects; however, several challenges have been identified as contributing factors negatively affecting telecommunication tower construction projects such as project failure, wastage, safety issues, project delays, budget overrun, structural overloading and collapses. These identified challenges foster telecommunication tower failures posing high risks to people and properties around the site premises. Mitigating these challenges on poor construction quality while strengthening the construction reliability and sustainability characteristics of telecommunication tower projects require swift attention by emphasizing the need for effective management strategies, skills and techniques thereby paving the way for this study to be conducted.
Aim: This study presents a framework to improve the quality of telecommunication tower construction projects, especially in the Gauteng province of South Africa, with a systematic inclination towards finding, addressing and avoiding these identified challenges and strengthening the strategies acknowledged as ways for improvements.
Methodology: The study was conducted in the Gauteng province of South Africa using a mixed method approach. This enabled results to be compared and justified. Cochran’s sample size formula was used to determine an acceptable number (385) as sample size for the study. Qualitative data was collected through structured interview sessions together with a well-tailored questionnaire developed for the quantitative data. The study recorded 19 respondents who participated in the qualitative interview while 227 error-free online Google forms out of the total 232 received questionnaires were used for quantitative analysis. Descriptive analysis was used to identify the frequencies of each variable, followed by exploratory and confirmatory analysis to establish the factors affecting the quality of telecommunication towers. Finally, a structural equation modelling analysis was performed to depict the relationships of these variables and to obtain a final framework for the study which was then validated.
Results: The study revealed that stakeholders (the clients, contractors, and suppliers) play a significant role in contributing to the success or failure of telecommunication tower construction projects through their commitments. The framework projected that the success for telecommunication tower constructions can be achieved by effective collaboration and alliance of relevant project stakeholders; through improved communication plan, procurement plan, team awareness, supervision, monitoring and inspection, training, project review or evaluation to promote the desired project delivery, meeting safety and quality standards. The framework also shows the importance of well-defined, communicated and implemented project requirements from planning and design to post-construction stages while emphasizing associated risks and applying safety measures as necessary at every stage in the project’s life circle. More so, it incorporates and emphasizes robust procurement
vii
and post-construction/continuous improvement stages. The framework gives an integrated set of procedures aimed at helping project decision-makers and stakeholders maximize the potential of quality in the construction of telecommunication towers by achieving an effective, efficient, safe and sustainable project outcome.