ii

ABSTRACT

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is integration between computer

and information processing. ICT applied as computer application and software to

change, keep, protect, transfer, observe and obtain information regardless of place

and time. ICT also function to simplified, accelerate, reduce workman, increase

productivity and quality of work progress. Quantity Surveyor is parties which

manage project management should become an example to other profession member

in construction sector in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use.

This study has focused to identify the Information and Communication Technology

(ICT) used by quantity surveying firm in Malaysia that can help them to implement

their works nowadays. In conclusion, majority of quantity surveying firms in

Malaysia still do not use special software and latest ICT’s equipment. Quantity

surveying firms only used basic software such as Microsoft Excel in implementing

their work. The main reason why quantity surveying practices do not use specialized

software because of lack of skill to conduct those software

iii

APPROVAL PAGE

This dissertation was submitted to the Department of Quantity Surveying and is

accepted as a partial of the requirement for the degree of Bachelor of Quantity

Surveying

_____________________________

Head, Department of Quantity Surveying

iv

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that this dissertation is the result of my own investigations, expect

where otherwise stated. I also declare that it has not been previously or concurrently

submitted as a whole for any other degree at IIUM or other institutions.

MOHD FAIZUL RUSYDI BIN MOHD BIDIN

Signature____________________________ Date______________________

v

INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

DECLARATION OF COPYRIGHT AND AFFIRMATION OF

FAIR USE OF UNPUBLISHED STUDY

Copyright © 2011 by Mohd Faizul Rusydi. All rights reserved.

THE STUDY ON THE USE OF INFORMATION AND

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN THE

MALAYSIAN QUANTITY SURVEYING FIRM

No part of this unpublished study may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or

transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder

except as provided below.

1. Any material contained in or derived from this unpublished study may only

be used by others in their writing due acknowledgement.

2. IIUM or its library will have the right to make and transmit copies (print or

electronic) for institutional and academic purpose.

3. The IIUM library will have the right to make, store in a retrieval system and

supply copies of this unpublished study if requested by other Universities and

research institutions.

Affirmed by Mohd Faizul Rusydi Mohd Bidin

___________________ _________________

Signature Date

vi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Alhamdulillah, I thanked to Allah S.W.T for giving me the chance, strength and

courage to complete this dissertation after all struggle and effort. This dissertation

was never an individual effort, but with combination and contribution of others who

involved directly or indirectly. Without them I would not be able to go through all

this hard time.

My supreme gratitude goes to family for their support, pray and cares, especially to

my parents Mohd Bidin@Zakaria bin Awang and Fatimah bt Embong and also to my

brothers and sisters for their financial support.

My greatest appreciation goes to my research supervisor, Dr. Sharifah Mazlina bt.

Syed Khuzzan Alhabshi for fulfilling her responsibility with such dedication and her

first class inputs while supervising me. Your guidance gave me ultimate inspiration

to the completion of this dissertation.

I would like to express my gratitude to Encik Shaiful Azhar bin Abu Bakar, Encik

Yazid bin Yadin for their support, suggestion and cares and to all my colleagues in

batch eight (8) of International Islamic University Malaysia Quantity Surveyor and

also the Department of Quantity Surveying, Kuliyyah of Architecture and

Environmental Design, IIUM.

Last but not least, I wish to thank to all who have contribute in one way or either in

making this degree project a possible one.

vii

TABLE OF CONTENT

Abstract ii

Approval Page iii

Declaration iv

Declaration of Copyright v

Acknowledgement vi

Table of Content vii

List of Tables xi

List of Figures xii

List of Abbreviations xii

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction 2

1.1 Overview of The Research 2

1.2 Problem Statement 4

1.3 Aim and Objectives of Research 6

1.3.1 Research Aim 6

1.3.2 Research Objectives 6

1.4 Scope of Research 7

1.4.1 Subject of Research 7

1.4.2 Area of Study 7

1.5 Importance of Study 7

1.6 Chapter Breakdown 8

1.6.1 Chapter 1: Introduction 8

1.6.2 Chapter 2: Literature Review 8

1.6.3 Chapter 3: Research Methodology 9

1.6.4 Chapter 4: Discussion and Findings 9

1.6.5 Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations 9

CHAPTER TWO

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN

QUANTITY SURVEYING FIRMS

2.0 Introduction 11

2.1 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) 12

2.2 ICT in Malaysia 13

2.2.1 ICT in Malaysian Construction Industry 14

2.2.1.1 Construction Automation 14

viii

2.2.1.2 Information and Construction Technology 14

2.2.2 Benefit of ICT in Malaysian Construction Industry 15

2.3 ICT within Malaysian Construction Industry Key Players 17

2.3.1 Key Players in Malaysian Construction Industry 17

2.3.1.1 Construction Team 19

2.3.1.2 Architect and Designer 20

2.3.1.3 Engineer 20

2.3.1.4 Quantity Surveyor 20

2.3.1.5 Facilities Manager 20

2.3.2 The Current Use of ICT within Malaysian Construction

Industry Key Players 21

2.4 The Current Use of ICT by Malaysian Quantity Surveyors 23

2.4.1 Historical Background of Quantity Surveying Profession

in Malaysia 23

2.4.2 Overview of Traditional Method 25

2.4.3 Computerization 26

2.4.4 Implementation of ICT Tools 26

2.5 Computer Software 27

2.5.1 Definition of Computer Software 27

2.5.1.1 Application Software 27

2.5.1.2 System Software 28

2.6 Software Usage in Quantity Surveying Firms 29

2.6.1 Available Quantity Surveying Software in Malaysia 30

2.6.1.1 MasterBill 30

2.6.1.2 Buildsoft Global Estimating System 31

2.6.1.3 Ripac Estimating and Cost Planning 31

2.6.1.4 Cato Suite 32

2.6.1.5 Goldenseal Estimating Software 32

2.6.1.6 Bina Link Solution 33

2.6.1.7 QS Cad 33

2.7 General Features and Capability of Quantity Surveying Software 33

2.8 Benefit Obtained from the Usage of Quantity Surveying Software 34

2.9 The Limitation of the Quantity Surveying Software 35

2.10 Summary 36

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.0 Introduction 38

3.1 Research Strategy 38

3.1.1 Quantitative Research 39

3.2 Data Collection 40

3.2.1 Secondary Data Collection 40

ix

3.2.2 Primary Data Collection 41

3.2.2.1 Questionnaire Survey 41

3.2.2.2 Questionnaire Construction 43

3.3 Method of Data Analysis 45

3.4 Summary 45

CHAPTER FOUR

DISCUSSION AND FINDINGS

4.0 Introduction 47

4.1 Method of Analysis 47

4.1.1 Percentage Distribution Method 47

4.1.2 Average Index Method 48

4.2 Analysis of Data Collected 49

4.3 Part 1 – Background of the Respondent 50

4.3.1 Gender 50

4.3.2 Age 50

4.3.3 Position in Firm 51

4.3.4 Number of Employees 51

4.3.5 Type of Firm 52

4.4 Part 2 – General Use of ICT in Respondents Firms 53

4.4.1 Common Communication Method at Firm 53

4.4.2 Common Use of Internet at Firm 54

4.4.3 Ask Quotation from Supplier 55

4.4.4 IT Department at Quantity Surveyor’s Firm 56

4.4.5 Findings on the General Use of ICT in QS Firm 57

4.5 Part 3 – Specific Use of ICT within the Role of QS in QS Firm 58

4.5.1 Preliminary Estimate 59

4.5.2 Details Estimate 60

4.5.3 Taking Off 60

4.5.4 BQ Production 61

4.5.5 Tender Process 61

4.5.6 Tender Evaluation 62

4.5.7 Record Drawing 62

4.5.8 Price Book 63

4.5.9 Job Analysis/Summaries 63

4.5.10 Contractor’s Progress Claim 64

4.5.11 Payment for Contractors and Supplier 64

4.5.12 Feasibility Study 65

4.5.13 Scheduling and Planning 65

4.5.14 ICT Use in Ralation with QS Job Scope 66

4.6 Part 4 – Benefit of the Use of ICT in the Respondents Firm 67

4.6.1 Findings on The Benefit Use of ICT 68

x

4.7 Part 5 – The Limitations and Recommendations from Respondents 70

4.7.1 Limitation 70

4.7.2 Discussion on the Limitation of ICT use 70

4.7.3 Recommendations and Suggestions 71

4.8 Summary 72

CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.0 Introduction 74

5.1 Conclusion 74

5.2 Analysis of Aim and Objectives

5.2.1 To investigate the current use of ICT within the Malaysian

Quantity Surveying Firm. 75

5.2.2 To identify the limitation benefits and drawback of the

implementation of ICT within the Malaysian

Quantity Surveyor’s Firm 75

5.3 Research Constraints 76

5.4 Recommendation 78

REFERENCES

APPENDICES

xi

LIST OF TABLES

REF NO. TITLE PAGE

Table 2.1 Expenditure by Sector in Malaysia 13

Table 2.2 Information Procedure-User Matrix for a

Typical Project Chain 21

Table 4.0 The Classification of Rating 48

Table 4.1 Feedback from the Respondents 49

Table 4.2 Gender of the Respondents 50

Table 4.3 Age of the Respondents 51

Table 4.4 Position of the Respondents 51

Table 4.5 No. of the Employees in Respondent’s Firm 52

Table 4.6 Type of Firm 52

Table 4.7 No of Respondents using ICT Tools in

carry out QS’s work 59

Table 4.8 The Average Index of The User’s Perception

towards ICT Tools 67

xii

LIST OF FIGURES

REF NO. TITLE PAGE

Figure 2.1 Benefits of ICT in Construction Industry 16

Figure 2.2 The Key Player in Construction Industry 18

Figure 2.3 Communication Model in Construction Industry 19

Figure 2.4 Examples of Application Software products 28

Figure 3.1 Stages involved in conducting Survey Research 42

Figure 4.1 Feedback from the Respondents 49

Figure 4.2 Common Communication Method in QS’s Firm 53

Figure 4.3 Common Used of Internet at QS’s firm 54

Figure 4.4 Method of Asking Quotation from Suppliers 55

Figure 4.5 QS’s Firm has IT Department 56

Figure 4.6 Roles of IT Department in QS’s Firm 56

Figure 4.7 No of Years the Firm Utilize IT Department 57

Figure 4.8 Frequency and Percentage of Preliminary Work 59

Figure 4.9 Frequency and Percentage of Details Work 60

Figure 4.10 Frequency and Percentage of Taking Off 60

Figure 4.11 Frequency and Percentage of BQ Production 61

Figure 4.12 Frequency and Percentage of Tender Process 61

Figure 4.13 Frequency and Percentage of Tender Evaluation 62

Figure 4.14 Frequency and Percentage of Record Drawing 62

Figure 4.15 Frequency and Percentage of Price Book 63

Figure 4.16 Frequency and Percentage of Job Summaries & Analysis 63

Figure 4.17 Frequency and Percentage of Contractor’s Progress Claim 64

Figure 4.18 Frequency and Percentage of Payment for Contractors

and Suppliers 64

Figure 4.19 Frequency and Percentage of Feasibility Study 65

Figure 4.20 Frequency and Percentage of Scheduling and Planning 65

Figure 4.21 Average Index of the Respondents’ Perception 68

Figure 4.22 Limitation of ICT Tools usage by the respondents 70

xiii

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

BQ Bill of Quantities

BQSM Board of Quantity Surveyor Malaysia

CAD Computer Aided Design

CAE Computer Aided Engineer

CIDB Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia

ECA Elementary Cost Analysis

ICT Information and Communication Technology

IT Information Technology

ITTA Information, Technology Association of America

JKR Malaysian Public Work Department

OECD Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development

PIKOM Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry Malaysia

QS Quantity Surveying

QSS Quantity Surveying System