In today’s highly competitive business environment, the adoption of a customer-oriented approach has become essential for organizational success. Customer satisfaction is widely recognized as a modern paradigm of quality management, serving as a foundation for fostering a customer-centric culture and enhancing managerial practices. Within this context, the construction industry presents unique characteristics, including temporality, site-specific operations, and the delivery of one-off products. Construction can thus be conceptualized as a complex system industry, characterized by project-based operations, temporary inter-firm collaborations, and significant customer involvement throughout the product life cycle. Against this backdrop, the present study aims to examine and advance the understanding of customer satisfaction within the construction sector, offering insights into its role, determinants, and implications for sustainable industry practices.
The Indian land division has made a ton of progress and is today one of the quickest developing markets on the planet. It involves four sub-divisions – lodging, retail, neighborliness, and business. While lodging helps five–six percent of India's horrible household item (GDP), the staying three sub-divisions are additionally expanding at a quick pace. Land in India is continuously perceived as a base administration that is driving the monetary development motor of the nation. Developing foundation prerequisite in assorted parts, for example, tourism, instruction, human services, and so forth., are putting forth a few financings open doors for both household and additionally remote speculators. The part of the Government of India has been instrumental in the improvement of the area. With the administration attempting to present engineer and purchaser neighborly approaches, the viewpoint for the land division does look encouraging.
Once widely prominent as magnificent Jamnagar has always been a multicultural and glamorous city renowned for its urbane manners, beautiful gardens, and gracious lifestyles. Real estate factors play a pivotal part in expansion, growth, and opulence of any city, with Jamnagar being no exception. The real estate sector of Jamnagar is one of the fastest flourishing industries of Jamnagar.
The literature establishes a clear nexus between quality management, customer satisfaction, and project success in the construction industry. Customer satisfaction is widely regarded as both a primary goal and a critical metric for evaluating construction quality and company performance (Kärnä et al.). Empirical research in the Finnish context by Kärnä et al. identifies key determinants of client satisfaction, categorizing them into five critical factors: quality assurance and handover, environmental and safety performance, co-operation, personnel competence, and the effectiveness of site supervision and subcontracting.
This focus on meeting customer requirements is positioned as a core business strategy for maintaining competitiveness. As Shanmugapriya and Subramanian argue, quality is a critical success factor defined by conformance to predetermined specifications. Their study of Indian construction firms, utilizing a Relative Importance Index (RII) analysis, ranks the top influencing factors as: conformance to codes and standards, robust quality documentation, the ability to satisfy customer needs, organizational knowledge sharing, and effective human resource planning. This underscores the necessity for implementing formalized Quality Management Systems (QMS) to survive in a demanding market.
The imperative for customer-centricity is particularly acute in residential real estate. Rathod et al. emphasize that understanding resident needs is essential for continuous improvement, especially in challenging market conditions. Their research in Western India reveals significant resident dissatisfaction with facilities, highlighting a gap between developer offerings and homeowner expectations. Ultimately, the successful execution of projects that achieve this satisfaction hinges on efficient implementation. Henckel and McKibbin caution that infrastructure projects frequently suffer from significant cost and time overruns (20-25%). They advocate for a rigorous assessment of project viability, particularly for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), to ensure accurate cost estimation and appropriate risk transfer to the private sector, thereby securing project profitability and successful delivery.
Rationale for the Study
Customer satisfaction is a critical determinant of success and longevity in the competitive real estate sector. For infrastructure developers, systematically understanding this satisfaction provides a strategic tool for quality improvement and business development. This study is motivated by the necessity to empirically evaluate the customer satisfaction levels of Divyam Infra Private Limited's clientele. The rationale extends beyond mere measurement to garner insights into the company's quality control management practices and the perceived effectiveness of its management and administrative staff. Furthermore, this research seeks to analyze market demand patterns and gather critical data on customer needs and requirements. The findings are intended to furnish the company with actionable guidance for the strategic planning and execution of its future residential projects, thereby enhancing its competitive positioning and service delivery.
Research Objectives
This study is designed to achieve the following specific objectives:
Scope of the Study
The scope of this research is delineated to ensure a focused and comprehensive analysis. The study encompasses:
Hypotheses of the Study
Based on the research objectives, the following hypotheses are proposed for testing:
Research Design
This study employs a mixed-methods research design, integrating both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The quantitative component will be used to numerically measure customer satisfaction levels and test the stated hypotheses through statistical analysis. The qualitative component will provide deeper insights into the reasons behind the satisfaction scores, capturing nuanced opinions on quality management, staff effectiveness, and customer needs.
Data Sources
Data will be gathered from the following primary and secondary sources:
Data Collection Instrument
The primary instrument for data collection from customers is a structured questionnaire. This questionnaire will be designed to include:
SAMPLING DESGIN:
Sampling Frame: The study population consists of customers (flat owners) from three specific residential projects developed by Divyam Infra Private Limited: SHREEJI, BHAGYALAKSHMI, and DIVYAMVILLA.
Sampling Unit: The primary sampling unit is an individual residential flat within the specified projects. The respondent for each unit will be the primary decision-maker or head of the household residing in the flat.
Sample Size: A total of 150 customers were selected for this study. This sample is distributed across the three aforementioned projects.
Sampling Technique: A non-probability convenience sampling technique was employed for this study. Participants were selected based on their willingness and availability to participate during the data collection period. While this method is efficient for exploratory research and provides initial insights, it is acknowledged that the findings may have limitations regarding generalizability to the entire customer base.
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
While this study provides valuable insights, its findings must be interpreted in light of the following methodological limitations:
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
Data: The data shows the number of customers in different investment brackets:
Interpretation:
The vast majority of the customer base (102 out of 148 respondents, or ~69%) has a high investment capacity, willing to invest Rs. 10,000 or more. A significant portion (46 customers, ~31%) is clustered at the Rs. 10,000 level. This indicates a financially capable clientele, which is typical for the real estate sector. This finding is crucial for the company's pricing strategy and for designing payment plans for future projects.
Data: The age distribution of customers is as follows:
Interpretation:
The data reveals that the primary customer demographic is middle-aged individuals, with the largest segment (66 customers, ~53%) being between 45-60 years old. This is followed by the 35-45 age group (31 customers, ~25%). This suggests that customers in this market are typically established in their careers and have accumulated sufficient capital for real estate investment, which aligns with the data on high investment capacity. The absence of customers above 60 may indicate a lack of targeted marketing towards retirees or a preference for this demographic to invest in other financial instruments.
Data: The gender distribution is perfectly balanced:
Interpretation:
The customer base is split evenly between male and female respondents (68 each). This suggests that the decision to purchase residential real estate is equally shared among genders in this market. For the company, this implies that marketing messages and customer engagement strategies should be inclusive and appeal to a gender-neutral audience.
Data: The occupational background of customers is:
Interpretation:
The occupational data is heavily skewed towards the "Others" category (199 customers), which limits detailed analysis. This category likely encompasses business owners, self-employed individuals, and other professions not specified. The second largest group is "Tech & Trade Professionals" (41 customers). To gain more actionable insights, future research should break down the "Others" category into more specific occupational fields.
Data: The primary reasons for purchasing a property are:
Interpretation:
This is a highly significant finding. An overwhelming majority of customers (199, or ~83%) purchased the property as an investment. Only 41 customers (~17%) purchased it for the purpose of "Living with family." This clearly indicates that the company's projects are primarily perceived as financial assets rather than immediate homes. This has major strategic implications: marketing should be tailored to investors highlighting rental yield and capital appreciation, and project features should cater to tenant needs rather than just owner-occupiers.
HYPOTHESIS AND TESTING – ANOVA
H0: There is no significant difference among selection of Project and reason for its selection.
H1: There is significant difference among selection of Project and reason for its selection.
ANOVA |
||||||
Source of Variation |
SS |
df |
MS |
F |
P-value |
F crit |
Between Groups |
336.1667 |
2 |
168.0833 |
0.468525 |
0.640372 |
4.256495 |
Within Groups |
3228.75 |
9 |
358.75 |
|
|
|
Total |
3564.917 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
Based on the results of the one-way ANOVA test, we fail to reject the null hypothesis (H0).
The analysis provides no statistically significant evidence to suggest that the reason for selecting a property differs based on which project (SHREEJI, BHAGYALAKSHMI, or DIVYAMVILLA) a customer chose. The perceived reasons for selection (e.g., investment, location, amenities) are consistent across the company's different projects.
In practical terms, this means that the factors driving customer choice are likely universal to the company's brand and overall offering, rather than being specific to the unique features of any single project. Marketing and sales strategies can therefore be developed cohesively across the project portfolio.
H0: There is no significant difference between occupation of owners and purpose for buying the apartment.
H1: There is significant difference between occupation of owners and purpose for buying the apartment.
ANOVA |
||||||
Source of Variation |
SS |
df |
MS |
F |
P-value |
F crit |
Between Groups |
1896.5 |
3 |
632.1667 |
1.894132 |
0.271797 |
6.591382 |
Within Groups |
1335 |
4 |
333.75 |
|
|
|
Total |
3231.5 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
Based on the results of the one-way ANOVA test, we fail to reject the null hypothesis (H₀). The analysis provides no statistically significant evidence to suggest that the purpose for buying an apartment (e.g., investment, self-use, retirement planning) differs based on the occupation of the property owners.
In practical terms, this implies that factors driving the purchase decision are consistent across different occupational groups. Whether buyers are professionals, business owners, or employed in other sectors, their reasons for investing in residential property appear to be similar. This finding suggests that marketing strategies and project positioning do not need to be tailored specifically to different occupational segments, as purchase motivation appears to be universal across these groups.
H0: There is no significant difference between number of people and type of Apartment.
H1: There is significant difference between number of people and type of Apartment.
ANOVA |
||||||
Source of Variation |
SS |
df |
MS |
F |
P-value |
F crit |
Between Groups |
901.5 |
3 |
300.5 |
1.276008 |
0.395924 |
6.591382 |
Within Groups |
942 |
4 |
235.5 |
|
|
|
Total |
1843.5 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
Based on the results of the one-way ANOVA test, we fail to reject the null hypothesis (H₀).The analysis provides no statistically significant evidence to suggest that the type of apartment preferred (e.g., 1BHK, 2BHK, 3BHK) differs based on the number of people in the family.
In practical terms, this implies that factors beyond just family size may be influencing apartment type selection. While conventional wisdom suggests larger families would prefer larger apartments, this statistical analysis does not support that relationship in your sample. Other factors such as budget constraints, investment goals, or availability of apartment types might be playing a more significant role in the decision-making process.
FINDINGS OF THE STUDY
The analysis of data collected from 150 customers of Divyam Infra Private Limited yielded the following key findings:
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the findings of this study, the following conclusions can be drawn: