Application of Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis Method in the Evaluating the Road and pavement maintenance contractors

Development and maintenance of infrastructures of a country is one of the fundamental indexes of development. One of the challenges that departments of road and urban developments and affiliated organizations encounter is shortage of funds and capable contractors for completing construction projects¡ especially maintenance of them. By using questionnaire method and surveying governmental employers and contractors¡ this research has made an attempt to recognize important and effective factors on decreased performance of road maintenance contractors by using factor analysis and structural equation in the study area. The results of answer sheets and factor analysis show the two parameters of «The maximum duration of the project» and «employees'' experience of repairing and maintenance of roads» have had a high importance. Also¡ economic parameters such as full provision of budget at the end and failure to set the appropriate time based on scientific studies (volume of operations¡ seasonal conditions etc.) plays an important role in contractors'' performance. Moreover¡ it was found that parameters of structural patterns and available hierarchical of the contractor''s company have had a high importance. Furthermore¡ weakness of technical knowledge of related employees and employers can be mentioned as employers'' problems. Examining some ways to correct these identified problems in previous step¡ it has been paid some attention to develop management systems and creation of a road maintenance information management system. In addition¡ codification and running the educational basis for contractors is effective on strengthening organizational performance and their results. The way of «contracting based on performance» which has been put under consideration in other countries of the world¡ can be used by governmental employers.