Owners Respond: Preferences for Task Performance, Delivery Systems, and Quality Management

Twenty years ago, public owners did almost all of their own design work and project inspection, but this is no longer the case. Innovative construction ideas of 15 years ago are now considered mainstream, and newer ideas are taking their places. Fifteen years ago, the concept of fast-track construction was still being researched and many federal agencies refused to fund it; today, most large federal projects call for some sort of fast tracking. These systems allow construction input into the design process of construction projects. Whoever performs tasks such as scope development, prebid cost estimates, and quality assurance can significantly affect the quality of the project, as can which delivery system is used. The Construction Institute of ASCE sponsored a survey of construction owners to determine what delivery systems are used in their projects and whom they select to perform various tasks. The survey also sought to ascertain the owners’ satisfaction level with the performance of the individuals and systems they choose. This paper, written for practitioners and researchers, describes the results of that survey.