Knowledge requirement theoretical framework for construction procurement management

Procurement management has been a focal point of many studies. This led to several industry stakeholders to produce reports on how best to achieve it. The construction sector comprises of loosely integrated activities and assemblage of various products from other industries. These characteristics make it unique from other industries, and as such, its success is largely dependent on the quantum of knowledge applied in its products design, strategy and implementation. However, clients of the industry and other stakeholders failed to appreciate this salient difference between the construction industry and others, thereby treating the procurement of its product as though is off-the-shelf. This is found in several procurement frameworks reviewed by this study, when the procurement for construction is lumped together with the same consideration as procurement for goods and services. Given the above perspective, this study explores the literature in order to develop a knowledge requirement theoretical framework for construction procurement management. An exploratory design was used as a stand-alone approach through a critical review of the extant literature on construction complexities, general procurement competencies and management. The reviews were applied in the context of systems thinking theory to develop a knowledge requirement theoretical framework for construction procurement management. The framework conceptualized knowledge requirement for construction procurement management as a conglomerate of knowledge (system) that is made up of units of knowledge aligned to accomplish a construction project. Thus, for full attainment of construction procurement management knowledge, a manager needs to possess the various units of knowledge that are appropriate for the execution and coordination of the various activities in construction procurement processes.