致謝
1999年,我在格拉斯哥喀里多尼亞大學課程完成了一年的全職工料測量課程之后在2001年移居美國。五年后，2006年9月份我又回到格拉斯哥重新注冊了工料測量的兼職課程。十年的工料測量課程學習，在今天，我懷著巨大的滿足和驕傲提交了這最后一份essay。這真是一個神奇的和美好的旅程。
若非眾人巨大的支持和鼓勵我不會來到今天這個地方來展示這些，有這個機會認識在場的各位。
首先我想要感謝Cruden建筑和續簽公司的McCafferty 以及Michael Heggarty。感謝他們雇傭了我并給了我這次機會。他們這段時期以來的持續幫助和鼓勵讓我不斷關注于改進這篇dissertation。
 
Acknowledgements
 
In 1999, I completed the 1st year of the full-time Quantity Surveying course at Glasgow Caledonian University before moving to America in 2001. After a five-year stay, I returned to Glasgow in September 2006 and re-enrolled in the Part-time Quantity Surveying course. Ten years on from the first experience of the QS course, it gives me great pleasure and pride to be submitting one of the last pieces of work in the honours year. It has been an amazing and unexpected journey.
 
I would not be in this position if it were not for the incredible levels of support and encouragement shown by so many and would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge some of these people.
 
First, I would like to thank Raymond McCafferty & Michael Heggarty of Cruden Building & Renewals for employing me and giving me this opportunity. Their continued support and encouragement throughout this process has given me the focus and drive to continually improve my work.
 
My colleagues at Cruden also deserve a special mention for their support during the dissertation and without the laughs during the day; this process would have been so much more difficult. Thanks guys!!!
 
I would also like to thank Halbert Mills at Glasgow Caledonian University for accepting me back into the course and believing that I had the potential to get to this stage.
 
During the course of this dissertation, I had some challenging times when I felt like I did not know how to develop my chosen topic. I would like to give my sincere thanks to my supervisor, Dr. John Lowe, for his inspirational input when I had these difficulties.
 
Unfortunately, I cannot name everyone but I want to thank all my friends and family who without their support I would never have completed this piece of work. Mum, Dad, Gran, thank you so much for everything.
 
Finally, the love and support shown by my Wife, Brooke, during this process has been a major source of inspiration. We will both be glad when the late night studying and completing of projects is finally over.
 
Peter McLellan