Questionnaires

The questionnaire was designed to achieve the research aims and objectives and to test the hypothesis of the study. Firstly, the questionnaire has an introduction developed to allow the respondents to get a general overview of the topic under research mainly providing general information on the construction contracts in Malawi and the two main contracts that are under investigation with respect to mega construction projects. The questionnaire was designed to address all four objectives of the study mainly by addressing the research questions and the hypothesis formulated. The preliminary research questionnaire was developed and sent to the supervisors of this research for comments and review as a means of ensuring quality of the data to be collected. The final edited and approved questionnaire was then sent to the sample group for their feedback on the research.

The aim of the questionnaire is to investigate the performance analysis of managing mega construction projects in Malawi through the effective use of turn-key contracts; also, the questionnaire further examines the major causes of failure of mega construction projects. With respect to the non-probabilistic purposive sampling criteria that was used, the respondents’ feedback is expected to be varied with respect to their technical know-how, experience, and their position in the project setup. These factors were considered as primary factors that would impact on the answers being provided by the sample and as such the research paid attention to the

coloration procedure of linking the respondent’s background information in section 1 of the questionnaire to their feedback in the foregoing sections. Thus, the perspective factors influenced by the sample groups of clients, contractors, consultants and developing partners were properly scrutinised during the formulation of questions so as to prevent prejudice of the obtained data. The questionnaire was then distributed through email addresses to the sample group as a means of speeding up the response and feedback process. Google forms were used to allow the response process to be faster and easier to track. A covering letter addressing the objectives of the questionnaire was used in relation to the university of Bolton letter as evidence that the research was to be used specifically for academic purposes only. The questionnaire was structured in a smart and attractive design to facilitate the respondent’s provision of the information that the research required. The questionnaire was developed to be short with a maximum response time taken of eight (8) to ten (10) minutes, comprehensive enough to create a rapport with the respondent but in turn allow the information to be collected for the research. The questionnaire was structured in a systematic manner and was divided into five sections with respect to the four objectives of the study as follows:

Introduction: in this area, the questionnaire was designed to provide background information on the research topic. It further defined the concepts of construction contracts, the traditional contract and the turnkey contract with relation to the Malawi construction industry. The foregoing was inserted in the questionnaire as a preamble to allow the respondent to have a general overview of the main aim of the research and its purpose.

Section One: Questions in this section were designed in such a manner as to answer the research objective of investigating the importance of implementing mega construction projects in Malawi using the turnkey contract approach.

Section Two: This section has questions designed to identify the benefits and challenges of the turnkey contract approach. Proposed merits and demerits obtained from literature were placed in this selection for the respondent to answer which elements were practical in his/her views towards the use of these two types of contracts. Areas for the respondent’s opinions and additions on the merits and demerits were provided to allow the questionnaire to obtain more data for analysis. Section Three: In this area, the questionnaire was developed to compare and contrast the traditional contract approach to the turnkey approach in implementation of construction projects.

Questions were formulated in such a manner as to address the traits of each of the contracts towards the implementation of mega projects in Malawi.

Section Four: Questions in this section were designed to determine areas of improvements of turnkey contracts in implementation of mega construction projects in Malawi. The questions were set to allow the respondent to provide his/her views and remarks in addition to the suggested improvements in the turnkey contract.

The questionnaire was therefore designed to address all the specific objectives of this research so as to collect enough analysable data on the same for discussions and recommendations. This data collection technique was the main source of primary data collection of this research and its data was recorded in a quantitative manner for ease in analysis of the same. Nonetheless, this data collection technique was validated using interviews with respect to our philosophy selected.