Work

Quotation impact factors for general contractors: a viewpoint from private sectors in Taiwan

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The quotes provided by private sector entities to the project’s general contractor vary based on actual considerations. This research aims to identify the factors that influence these quotes for general contractors. Through an extensive review of literature and interviews with experts, four main aspects were identified, encompassing a total of 38 impact factors related to quoting patterns. A survey was conducted among construction professionals, resulting in 123 valid responses out of 146 distributed surveys. The survey’s validity was confirmed with a Cronbach’s Alpha value exceeding 0.7. Subsequently, a factor analysis was performed, confirming 38 impact factors and their respective weights. The results from the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) offer valuable managerial insights, highlighting the most impactful factors: external demand, corporate adjustment, and financial condition. These findings provide practical guidance for practitioners. These insights encompass areas such as information sharing, project limitations, and subcontractor capabilities. Contrary to stereotypes presented in prior research, factors such as reputation and social connections were found to not significantly impact quotation outcomes.

Source: Journal of Civil Engineering and Management

DOI: 10.3846/jcem.2025.24803

Authors: Jieh-Haur Chen, Chih-Kuo Chang, Hsi-Hsien Wei, Ju-Ting Hou

Institutions: National Central University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Language: English

Topic: Construction Project Management and Performance

Subfield: Management Science and Operations Research

Field: Decision Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $517

Funders: Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, National Science and Technology Council