Investigation of Quality of Cost Data input in Life Cycle Cost (LCC) Analysis in Malaysia

ommentators often pointed out that the main focus of local practitioners and scholars in the Malaysian construction industry is considerably on LCC conversion, which includes the methodology and models of computing LCC, but very little emphasis has been given on the quality of cost data as inputs into process of producing a reliable and comprehensive LCC analysis. This paper presents the outcomes of investigation on the quality of cost data input used into the practice of LCC analysis for building works in the Malaysian construction industry. This paper reports part of a three-year research programme to enhance the quality of LCC outputs through the enhancement of quality data input requirements. The quality of cost data input in LCC analysis was assessed using a modified Delphi approach to establish consensuses of expert opinions regarding the state of data availability, accessibility, currency and reliability degrees in the practice of LCC analysis in the Malaysian construction industry. The modified Delphi questionnaire was carried out in three rounds with a group of panellists that has expertise, knowledge and skills in LCC. Looking at the results, the majority of the panellists reached consensus there is limited availability and inaccessibility of current and reliable cost data, which can be used as inputs for LCC analysis in the Malaysian construction industry. The results also established that no single data source has been identified as ready and complete to be used as input for the comprehensive LCC estimation for building works in the Malaysian construction industry.