Lean construction in Nigeria: extent of awareness and adoption

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the extent of awareness and adoption of lean construction (LC) in Southwest, Nigeria with a view to enhance project performance. Design/methodology/approach A convenient sampling method was used to randomly select 165 built environment professionals in Ekiti and Osun State, Nigeria who supplied the research data through a questionnaire survey. This built environment professionals consisted of 40 Engineers, 51 Architects, 44 Quantity Surveyors and 30 Builders. Data analysis was carried out using both descriptive (frequency, percentage and mean score) and inferential (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistics). Findings The study revealed that the respondents’ general awareness of LC is low (MS = 2.44). Further results showed that the extent of understanding of the built environment professionals about the key concepts of lean philosophy is low (MS = 2.39). It was also revealed that the extent of adoption of LC is very low (MS = 1.88). In the same vein, the extent of adoption of the key concepts of LC is very low (MS = 1.95). More results indicated that the area of work of the respondents accounted for a significant difference (p = 0.002) in the rating of their extent of awareness of LC, as well as its key concepts. On the contrary, the profession of the respondents did not account for a significant difference (p = 0.355) in the rating of their extent of awareness of LC, as well as its key concepts. The final result showed that the area of work of the built environment professionals as well as their profession could not account for a significant difference in their rating of the extent of adoption of LC and its key concepts in the study area Practical implications The study correlates low awareness and very low adoption of LC and its key concepts to project performance in the study area. As such, increased awareness and more importantly, extensive adoption of LC would enhance improved project performance in the study area. Originality/value The study attempted to expose the extent of awareness and adoption of LC in Southwest, Nigeria. The delineation of the opinions of the respondents on the axes of their profession and area of work affirmed its originality.