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Al-Turfi, S (2017) Best practice project management for the sustainable regeneration of Holy Karbala Province in Iraq, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Bolton.

Arewa, A O (2014) An empirical analysis of commitment to health and safety and its effect on the profitability of UK Construction SMEs, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Engineering, University of Bolton.

Babangida, I (2014) Hierarchical structuring and evaluation of risks, uncertainties and technical challenges faced by building refurbishment contractors, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Engineering, University of Bolton.

Emam, H (2021) Optimising project controls for construction using BIM and Big Data Analytics, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Bolton.

Evans, M (2022) Strategic frameworks for managing lean construction on megaprojects: towards global integrated delivery and corporate governance, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Bolton.

Ibbotson, K (2020) Prioritising carbon reduction in UK public sector flood and coastal risk management, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Bolton.

Kaggiah, G M B (2022) Strategies for improving the sustainability of SMEs in the construction industry in Malawi, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Bolton.

  • Type: Thesis
  • Keywords: corruption; emergence; failure; sustainability; workforce; SMEs; civil engineering; payment; Kenya; Malawi; Zambia; contract law; social science; government; lawyer; stakeholder; interview
  • ISBN/ISSN:
  • URL: http://ubir.bolton.ac.uk/3644/
  • Abstract:
    The Structural Adjustment Programme (SAPs) during the period 1980 to 2000 encouraged Governments to privatise non-strategic commercial activities, leading to the emergence of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector, taking 95% of all trading entities and employing up to 40% of workforce in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, majority of SMEs in Africa fail within five years of starting and few last beyond 15 years and have no capacity to compete with International SMEs particularly in the construction industry. This research was to identify the leading factor in causing failure of SMEs in construction Industry in Africa; case of Malawi and develop a strategic legal framework to enhance sustainability of local SMEs. Literature reviewed confirmed a high frequency of failure and revealed twelve factors which cause negative impact on sustainability of SMEs generally. The National Construction Industry Council (NCIC) registers and regulates SMEs in the construction Industry and from their records there were 5,000 SMEs in 2015. Mixed methods was adopted collecting qualitative and quantitative data in three stages. A survey by questionnaire administered to a random representative sample of 800No, and data analysed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) established payment paralysis the leading factor in failure. 20SME failure cases were reached and responded to a questionnaire and interviews revealing the events and circumstances leading to payment paralysis. They posited that major drivers of payment paralysis are Corruption, Weak Contract laws, PEs skewing risks in their favour, poor bid evaluation and high bank interests. Interviews were then conducted with 5policy/opinion leaders who confirmed the major drivers of payment paralysis stated by the 20failed SMEs and gave their suggestions on contract and legal steps required to support the SMEs which were adopted in the design of the legal framework. The research findings were shared widely in awareness presentations in Malawi, Kenya and Zambia to Government, Academia, Legal Societies, SMEs MABCATA, MIE, IEK. . In 2015 Civil Engineering Contractors Association, (RACECA) appointed a team of lawyers and the author to seek solutions. In 2018 the author published these findings in the Kenya Engineer Journal. The concerted efforts of stakeholders resulted in 5No. Bills tabled in Kenya Parliament between May 2019 and October 2020 and happily, Bill No.5 was the Prompt Payment Bill sponsored by the Government. To date two of the five drivers were targeted.

Kaunda, R T (2020) Project Delivery Methods impact on efficient delivery of road construction projects in Malawi, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Bolton.

Mulenga, C Z (2020) Construction project performance in Zambia: A case study of public high schools, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Bolton.

Sherratt, F S (2012) Constructing safety on sites: an exploration of the social construction of safety on large UK construction sites, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Bolton.