Quantity Surveyors’ Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Mixed Method Approach

The COVID-19 outbreak began at the end of 2019, and has evolved to a pandemic threatening various industries’ sustainability. Decisive actions have been taken tackle pandemic’s spread, however, impacts continue be felt by many industries, including construction industry. This paper therefore focuses on outbreak’s impact Quantity Surveyors’ (QS) projects activities, as key profession in A mixed method approach, questionnaire survey followed expert interviews, was adopted. Subsequently, 199 valid responses for analysis were obtained from distribution, using descriptive statistics Significance Index. Furthermore, qualitative data acquired through semi-structured interviews with five experts, analyzed structured thematic analysis. According results, 56.78% respondents experienced project slowdowns, 13.57% suspensions or terminations, 12.56% cost overruns. Most acknowledged had present changes (84.92%), form organization structure, work culture, technological application, objectives. Meanwhile, Index successfully established an 11-factors ranking, regarding QS overall completion most profound scheduling, supply chain, tendering, controlling, claim management. study’s quantitative findings tend accordance, thus, providing some fundamental insights industry, direct sustainability, technology adoption, resiliency issues. In addition, this study also contributes scientific knowledge discussing issues trends culture professional activities.