The Development of Appropriate Measurements for the International Comparison of Contractor Performance

With a view to undertaking a comparison of contractor performance in Japan, the UK and the US, the development of a new methodology for comparing performance internationally is briefly presented. A hypothetical construction project forms the platform of the methodology thereby allowing comparable and representative data to be collected. A critical review of performance measures is then presented. Client satisfaction is considered to be the principal measure of contractor performance, and for this the traditional dimensions of cost, time and quality are still considered appropriate. However, in the interests of a sustainable construction industry, the goal of client satisfaction should not be at the expense of contractors. As such, sustainability is presented as the fourth dimension of contractor performance. Early indications from on-going research suggest these dimensions to be appropriate for the comparison of contractor performance. Results suggest some significant differences in performance levels against each of these performance measures across the three countries.