Towards Dispute Resolution in Construction Contracts in Sri Lanka: What is Quantity Surveyor’s role on Dispute Avoidance rather than Dispute Resolution?

Abstract

This article considers the Quantity Surveyor?s (QS) role from inception to close-out of the final account by achieving holistic approach on commercial, contractual and contract administrative advice from inception to close-out of the project which enhance the completion of the project successfully; obtain value for money; and create sustainable development environment in the local construction industry. Unfortunately, projects are in delay as prominent character in the industry and becoming disputes to resolve with additional effort which need allocating additional management time and cost to settle them. End of process of dispute resolution a compensation to be made for victim party by other which had not contributed positively by any kind of activity to complete a project. Therefore, neither of parties would allocate any reservation cost for this component and become unforeseen hidden cost and expenditure only to resolve if arise. The QS does all the commercial calculation since incept to end of the lifecycle of project and participate to resolve dispute. As QS involves both events, it is important that QS to think that the ?dispute avoidance? practices rather than ?dispute resolution? approach during his or her professional practice is very important in every task so that project would mitigate with less number of disputes and paying un-necessary money which could be minimized or avoided of expenditure for the dispute resolution. The methodology was the reviewing of the Literature Review on the subject (disputer avoidance rather than resolution) and listed out to understand the role of QS on the subject to understand the area which need to improve their knowledge and how preventive action can be possible in competently.