TABLE OF CONTENTS

Index            Title                                                                                      Page

                    Title page…………………………………………………………..i

                    Declaration…………………………………………………………ii

                   Certification…………………………………………………………iii

                   Approval page………………………………………………………..iv

                    Dedication……….………………………………………………..…v

                   Acknowledgement………………………………………….……......vi

                   Table of content ……………………..………………………………vii-xi

                    List of table……………….…………………………………………xii

                    List of figures………..………………………………………………xiii

                    Abstract……………..………………………………………………xiv

           CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of Study……………………………………………………1-2

1.2       Statement of Problem……………………………………………………3

1.3       Objectives of Study………………………………………………………4

1.4       Research Questions……………………………………………………….4

1.5       Hypothesis Formulation………………………………………………….4

 1.6      Significance of the study…………………………………………………5

 1.7      Scope of the Study……………………………………………………….6

1.8       Limitation of the Study………………………………………………….6

1.9       Definition of Terms …………………………………………………..6-7

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1       Preamble…………………………………………………………………...…8

2.2       Project Defined…………………………………………………….............8-9

2.2.1    Characteristics of Project…………………………………………………….10

2.2.2    Characteristics of a Project……………………………..…………………….10

2.2.3    Classification of project within categories and sub-categories………….……10

2.3       Project Management……………………….………..…………………….11-13

2.4       Planning in Construction…………………………………………………..13-14

2.4.1    Project Planning…………………………………………………………...14-18

2.5       Project Life Cycle……………………………………………………….....18-19

2.6       project planning tools and techniques………………………………….……...19

2.6.1    The agreement Matrix…………………………………………………............19

2.6.2    Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI)………..……...……………...…....19-20

2.6.3      Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)………………………….……………20-21

2.7       Project Planning Techniques………………………………………………..21-26

2.8       Factors Affecting Project Planning Effectiveness…………………………..26-28

2.9      The Role of Project Planning In Increasing Contractors Profit……………..28-30

2.10     Project Performance…………………………………………………………30-31

2.11     Summary of Review………………………….……………………..……….31-32

            CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1       Preamble…………………………………………………………………………33

3.2       Research Design………………………………………………………...............33

3.3       Description of study area…………………………………………………………33

3.4         Population of the Study………………………………………………………….33

3.5         Sample Size and Sampling Technique…………………………………………..34

3.6        Data Collection………………………………………………………………….34

3.6.1     Sources of Data……………………………………………………………….…34

3.6.2     Instrument for Data Collection………………………………………………….35

3.8        Data Analyses Tools/Techniques……………………………………………35-37

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSES AND DISCUSIONS

4.1     Preamble………………………………………………………………………………38

4.2     Data Presentation…………………………………………………………………..38-41

4.3     Data Analyses/Findings……………………………………………………………….41

4.3.1   Questionnaire Administration and Response Rate……….….……………………….41

4.3.2   Respondents Characteristics………………………………..……………………..42-44

4.3.3   Project Planning Techniques and Tools in Construction Project Delivery………..44-45

4.3.4    Factors Affecting Project Planning Practices of Contractors………………………46-47

4.3.5   Impact of Proper Project Planning On Contractors’ Profitability……………….….48-50

4.4      Discussion of Findings…………………………………………………………………50

4.4.1  Project Planning Techniques and Tools Used by Contractors in Construction Project   

          Delivery………………………………………………………………………………….50

4.4.2   Factors Affecting Project Planning Practices of Contractors…………………………...51

4.4.3   Evaluating the impact of proper project planning on Contractors’ profitability………..51

          CHAPTER: FIVE SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1Preamble………………………………………………………………………………….52

5.2    Summary……………………………………………………………………………........52

5.3    Summaries of Findings…………………………………………………………………..52

5.3.1   Project Planning Techniques and Tools Used by Contractors in

            Construction Project Delivery and its implications…………………………………..52-53

5.3.2   Factors Affecting Project Planning Practices and Its Implications………………………53

5.3.3 The Impact of Proper Project Planning On Contractors’ Profitability and Its Implication.53

5.4        Conclusions………………………………………………………………………….53-54

5.5        Recommendations………………………………………………………………………54

REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………….55-57

APPENDIX A: QUESTIONNAIRE…………………………………………………………58-60

APPENDIX B: CHI SQUARE DISTRIBUTION TABLE…………………………………......61

LIST OF TABLES

Table 4.1   Level of Use of Project Planning Tools ……………………….…………………….39

Table 4.2   Factors that Affect the Effectiveness of ProjectPlanning…….……………………40

Table 4.3 showing project planning on contractors’ profitability……………………….…….…41

Table 4.4  Response Rates to the Study…………………………………..……………..………41

Table 4.5  Showing the background information of the respondents …..…………………........42

Table 4.6 Ranking the level of use of project planning tools…………………………………...44

Table 4.7   level of significance of the use of the project planning tools………………………..45

Table 4.8   Ranking of factors affecting project planning………..………………………….….46 

Table 4.9   Testing if the factors identified are significant……………………………………..47

Table 4.10 Showing project planning impacts on contractors profitability………………….…..48

Table 4.11 Spearman correlation ranking of the relationship……………………...……….……49

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1.1 WBS and their description……………………………………………20

Figure 1.2 Gantt Charts………………………………………………………. ...21

Figure 1.3 CPM diagram………………………………………………………. .23

Figure 1.4 PERT chart …………………………………………………………. 25

ABSTRACT

The increased complexity of the society and high level of competition in the construction industry has made it imperative for contractors, project managers and construction companies to carry out serious planning in order to ensure project success and profits. This work examined project planning impact on a contractor’s profitability. The objectives were to identify project planning techniques and tools used by contractors in construction project delivery, determine factors affecting project planning practices of contractors, and to evaluate the impact of proper project planning on contractor’s profitability. The research approach involved survey design using structured questionnaire administered to 50 respondents in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Spearman Ranked Correlation, Chi Square and other descriptive statistical methods were adopted for data analysis. The findings of the study revealed that Gantt chart with a mean score of 4.83 was the most commonly used tool used by contractors in project planning, and project funding not aligning with project plans with a mean score of 4.70 is the most common factor affecting project planning effectiveness. The hypothesis tests between level of use of project planning practices and contractors’ profitability using Spearman Ranked Correlation test indicated significant positive relationship between effective project planning and contractors’ profitability. The study concludes that project planning efforts influences contractor profitability in construction project delivery. The recommendations put forward were that project management teams should expose contractors to the relevance of project planning and its benefits. Clients should properly define their brief and contractor to avoid purchasing materials that won’t be used immediately in cases of installation of lifts that require heavy machinery and store houses.