Cross-Boundary Practices within the Construction Industry: The Case of the Quantity Surveyors

The evolving dynamics of the construction industry have sharpened the need for quantity surveyors (QSs) to reinterpret their role, expanding beyond traditional commercial management practices to encompass broader strategic functions such as value optimization and interdisciplinary collaboration. At the same time, professional overlaps and cross-boundary practices have become an increasing challenge to the quantity surveying profession, leading to potential conflicts and quality compromises in construction projects. However, there is markedly less research on the negative effects of cross-boundary practices for the quantity surveying profession, particularly regarding professional identity and long-term industry implications. Therefore, this study aims to recognize the challenges posed to the quantity surveying profession by cross-boundary practices and to examine the underlying reasons for these challenges. A comprehensive literature review and 25 semistructured interviews were conducted with two samples: QS professionals and non-QS professionals, to collect data. The content analysis method was used to analyze the gathered data. The core quantity surveying functions, such as taking off quantities, preparing bills of quantities, and contract administration, are increasingly performed by non-QS professionals in the construction industry. Even if there are positive effects, including knowledge transfer and reducing the scarcity of QSs through cross-boundary practices, the negative consequences, such as lowering project quality and harming the professional image of QSs, were found to be more significant. By empirically investigating the causes and effects of cross-boundary practices in quantity surveying, this study addresses an overlooked vulnerability in the construction industry and fills a critical gap in the literature on professional role integrity and industry standards.