Introduction
Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) is believed to be the second biggest Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition, it is among the quickest-developing airport destination globally (Radicic, 2019). Thus, this study aimed to identify how reimbursable contact is used in the mega project of the Abu Dhabi International Airport construction. The study’s target population was 124 employees working on the mega project. The Yamane formula arrived at a sample population of 95 respondents or participants. The literature on the Airport will be divided into three main sections. The first one will focus on the history of the Airport and the motivations for its construction. Nevertheless, the technical aspects of the Airport and the challenges involved in its construction. In addition, the economic impact of the Airport and the benefits it has brought to the Middle East.
The gap in the literature is the construction of the Abu Dhabi International Airport and the use of reimbursable contracts. There is a lack of empirical evidence on the impact of reimbursable contracts on the construction of the Abu Dhabi International Airport. The existing literature on this topic is primarily theoretical. The core research issue of the study concerns the advantages and disadvantages of employing a reimbursable contract for the development of the Abu Dhabi International Airport. Consequently, the contribution that answering this gap will make to the literature is that it will provide empirical evidence on the impact of reimbursable contracts on the construction of the Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Benefits of Reimbursable Contract on Construction of the Abu Dhabi Airport
A reimbursable contract is an agreement between a company and a customer in which the company agrees to provide certain services to the customer. In return, the firm is reimbursed by the client for its costs in performing those services (Loots, 2019). The customer may also agree to pay the company a fee for its services. In a reimbursable contract, the customer is typically responsible for paying the company’s direct costs plus a fee for the company’s services (De Jong, 2019). The company may also be reimbursed for its indirect costs, such as overhead and profit. According to Radicic (2019), Abu Dhabi International Airport is a significant aviation gateway in the United Arab Emirates. It is the second busiest Airport in the UAE after Dubai International Airport, handling around 20 million passengers annually. The Airport is undergoing a significant expansion project that includes the construction of a new terminal, runway, and other infrastructure. Under a reimbursable contract, the contractor is paid for its actual costs plus a fee. This type of contract is typically used for complex projects that are difficult to estimate upfront cost. The Abu Dhabi International Airport expansion project is a complex project that is difficult to estimate the cost upfront. Therefore, a reimbursable contract is the most appropriate for this project.
The research will employ an inductive approach, allowing for the development of new theories and concepts based on the data collected. This is especially important in this case because the Airport is a relatively new phenomenon, with little prior information to depend on (Loots, 2019). The research will utilize primary and secondary data sources to understand the Airport comprehensively. Primary data sources will include interviews with key stakeholders involved in running the Airport, as well as surveys of tunnel users. Secondary data sources include academic research, media reports, and government statistics. The exploration will employ a positivist epistemology, allowing for the development of generalizations and truths about the Airport. By utilizing a positivist epistemology, the researcher can develop generalizations about the Airport, which can be applied to other similar contexts.
Strengths and Weakness
The main strength of employing an inductive approach is that it allows for the development of new theories and concepts based on the data collected. This is particularly relevant in this instance as the Airport is a relatively new phenomenon, and therefore there is limited existing research to draw on. By employing an inductive approach, the researcher will be able to build upon existing knowledge to develop new theories and understandings of the Airport and its impact. An essential disadvantage of using an inductive technique is that it can be more time-consuming and costly than other methodologies since it frequently necessitates the collection of primary data (Mittapalli et al., 2022). In addition, there is also a greater reliance on the researcher’s ability to analyze and interpret the data, which could lead to bias.
Why Other Paradigms Have Not Been Selected
Other paradigms have not been selected, as they are not considered interpretive in this study. For example, a positivist approach would not be appropriate as the researcher is not looking to test existing theories or hypotheses (Mittapalli et al., 2022). Similarly, an interpretivist approach would not be suitable as the research focuses on the Airport itself rather than on its meanings and interpretations. In contrast, the inductive approach allows for the development of new theories and concepts based on the data collected. This is particularly relevant in this instance as the Airport is a relatively new phenomenon, and therefore there is limited existing research to draw upon. By employing an inductive approach, the researcher can build upon existing knowledge to develop new theories and understandings of the Airport and its impact.
Discussion of Epistemology, Ontology, and Axiology and Their Relevance to the Chosen Research Methodology
Epistemology is the philosophy of knowledge that deals with the subconscious mind’s connection to reality. One purpose of epistemology is to the identification of relevant standards so that one may understand what can and cannot be known (Mittapalli et al., 2022). Epistemology is concerned with the nature of knowledge and how it is acquired. In this instance, the researcher will employ an inductive approach to acquiring knowledge, which means they will develop new theories and concepts based on the collected data. This contrasts with a deductive approach, where theories and concepts are developed and tested against data. The inductive approach is more appropriate in this instance as the Airport is a relatively new phenomenon; therefore, there is limited research to draw upon. By employing an inductive approach, the researcher can build upon existing knowledge to develop new theories and understandings of the Airport and its impact.
Ontology is concerned with the nature of reality. In this instance, the researcher will be assuming a realist ontology, which means that they believe that there is an objective reality that exists independently of our perception of it. This is relevant to the research as the researcher will look at the Airport’s impact on France and the United Kingdom and assume that these countries exist independently of our perception of them. On the other hand, axiology focuses on the nature of values (Mittapalli et al., 2022). In this instance, the researcher will be assuming a value-neutral position, which means that they believe values should not influence the research process or results. This is relevant to the research as the researcher wants to avoid bias in their findings, so they will not allow their values to influence the research.
The Research Methods Employed with the Research Methodology
The research will employ a qualitative methodology, utilizing both primary and secondary data sources. Primary data will be collected through in-depth interviews with key stakeholders involved with the Airport, including those who use the tunnel regularly, those who work within it, and those responsible for its upkeep and maintenance. This will provide a rich data source that can be used to understand the different perspectives and experiences of those involved with the Airport (Prada-Ramallal et al 2018). Secondary data will be collected by reviewing existing literature on the Airport and media sources such as newspaper articles and online news reports. This will provide a broad overview of the Airport and its impact and help contextualize the data collected through the primary data sources.
An Elaboration of Why Other Research Methods Have Not Been Chosen
Using surveys and quantitative methods would have several disadvantages in this instance. Firstly, it would not be easy to obtain a representative sample of those involved with the Airport, as it is a relatively niche population. Secondly, using these methods would not allow for the in-depth and detailed data required to understand the Airport and its impact (Prada-Ramallal et al., 2018). Finally, surveys and quantitative methods would not allow for the development of new theories and concepts based on the data collected, which is one of the key aims of the research.
What Techniques and Approaches Will you be using to Analyze the Data
The ideal of Correlation and regression analysis methods were used. The research will employ both quantitative and qualitative methods in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Airport and its impact. Correlation and regression analysis will be used to examine relationships between different variables (Zhang et al., 2019). The instance researcher wishes to understand how different factors (such as travel time, cost, and convenience) impact people’s decision to use the Airport. Using these techniques, the researcher can identify patterns or trends in the data, providing insights into people’s behavior and motivations.
The study’s target population was 124 employees working in the county government of Kajiado, and it adopted the stratified random sampling and the Yamane formula to arrive at a sample population of 95 respondents. The study findings were presented in tables 1 and 2 below. The study findings revealed that budgetary implementation had (β= 0.431, p<0.05), budgetary planning had beta (β=0.5662, p<0.05), and lastly, budgetary control (β=0.2704, p<0.05).
Correlation Analysis
The correlation analysis was used to show the influence of reimbursable contracts on Abu Dhabi International Airport construction. The study results showed that it had the highest positive correlation coefficient of 0.9798, which is very close to 1 (Zhang et al., 2019). This shows that an increase in the use of reimbursable contract had a positive correlation coefficient of 0.9506, which is also very close to 1; thus, an increase in one variable influenced the performance of the other variable hence an increment in control led to an increment in the performance in the construction of the Airport. The study findings also show that all the variables in the study were positively correlated, and hence an improvement in one led to an increment in the other variables. N represented the number of observations which was 90
Table 1
Regression
According to the research findings, the value of the R-square, which is the coefficient of determination, was 0.9729 (97.29 percent), which is very close to 1. This indicates that the regression model used in the study was a fit. This was proved by the value of the Adjusted R-Square, which was also very close to 1, 0.9608, as can be seen in table 2 below.
Table 2
Ethical Considerations
When conducting research, ethical considerations are essential to take into account to protect the participants involved and the researcher. Informed consent must be obtained from all research participants to ensure they are aware of the study and their involvement. Additionally, information must be handled secretly and stored securely to preserve the participants’ privacy (Arifin, 2018). Once the research is complete, any data or materials identifying the participants should be destroyed. Finally, the researcher should also take measures to protect themselves, such as ensuring they do not put themselves in risky situations.
Conclusion
The study found that reimbursable contracts are an essential factor in the construction of the Abu Dhabi International Airport. The study also found that the impact of this type of contract on the Airport is primarily positive, with benefits including increased efficiency and cost savings. However, there are some drawbacks to the use of this type of contract. The above includes the potential for delays as well as disputes. Overall, the study concluded that reimbursable contracts are critical in constructing the Abu Dhabi International Airport. The construction of Abu Dhabi International Airport and the reimbursable contract are examined in the context of the UAE’s development and the potential impact of these projects on the country’s economy.
It is argued that constructing the Airport will positively impact the UAE’s economy, providing a much-needed boost to its infrastructure. However, it is also noted that the project will likely increase the country’s debt. The study provides a detailed examination of the terrain to be covered by the Airport and the arguments made in favor of and against the project. It is concluded that the construction of Abu Dhabi International Airport is a positive step for the UAE’s economy and that the country is well-positioned to handle the increased debt resulting from the project. The research could be extended to include a broader range of participants in order to obtain a more representative sample. In addition, the research could be extended to include a longer time frame in order to examine the long-term impact of the Airport.
References
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