THE CODED ESTIMATE SYSTEM: A SIMPLIFIED FRAME OF REFERENCE AND MONITORING TECHNIQUE FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATES DURING DESIGN DEVELOPMENT IN THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

The research examines and compares attitudes of user groups regarding the implementation of The Coded Estimate System (CES). The CES was introduced in 1979 and has since been used exclusively for all building construction projects by The Texas A&M University System. The goals of this system are to provide (1) a simplified frame of reference for what can otherwise be a confusing series of cost estimations, and (2) a monitoring technique for all cost estimates.; Data were obtained by a key informant survey employing the use of a Likert-scaled questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed to two groups. Group I was composed of 18 consulting architects, familiar with the CES, who had provided professional consulting services for the university system, and Group II was composed of 23 staff members of The Texas A&M University System who administered the CES. The questionnaire included 24 items with five possible responses--ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Two subgroups were developed from Group II, staff members: Group III, architects and Group IV, engineers. These groups contained the professionals most involved in administering the CES.; Analysis of variance (ANOVA) comparison between the groups studied indicates a positive perceived effectiveness for use of the CES as a cost monitoring technique at the .05 level of confidence. The ANOVA comparison indicates no significant agreement for use of the CES as a simplified frame of reference.; Response summation tables for all respondents indicate minimal acceptance for use of the CES as a simplified frame of reference but a high degree of cost monitoring technique. More engineers than architects express acceptance of the code letter as a frame of reference. The results indicate that the CES is an effective technique for monitoring cost estimates during project design.; Recommendations are made for development of additional information regarding the effectiveness and use of the CES and for development of educational seminars for user coordinators and lay persons involved in the building delivery process.