Dimensions of a mature quantity surveying profession

Abstract

The initiative of this article was to identify those dimensions that are important determinants in establishing and developing an instrument/indicator to measure/ indicate the level of maturity of a profession, in general and the South African profession. A questionnaire based on previous research results done by the authors (research on project management maturity) was compiled to identify and weigh the most important dimensions of a mature quantity surveying learned society. Leaders in the profession and some identified imminent professionals in South Africa, were requested to evaluate these dimensions according to the level of importance of each. Professional development work done by the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP) and the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) also contributed to the study. The following dimensions were selected and used for this study: education, training, mentorship, continuing professional development (CPD), research, marketing, infrastructure, law & legislation, standardisation, management practices and total quality management. The opinions of the respondents of the quantity surveying profession as a mature and learned society were also tested. A weighting of these dimensions was used to propose a maturity model for the quantity surveying profession. After the results were analysed it became clear that respondents regarded training to be more important than qualifications, thus identifying the need to clearly define the difference between education and training. Training, marketing and management practice were also evaluated to be of similar importance. However, this did not influence the identification of the various dimensions’ importance. The results showed the dimensions that are perceived to be of substantial importance for a mature quantity surveying society. Analysis of results also enabled the proposal of a maturity model for the quantity surveying profession as a learned society.