Factors influencing the successful implementation of the livelihood projects: the perception of project managers in the not for profit organizations in Kenya

Abstract

A number of problems undermine livelihood projects success. Many projects around the world also keep failing, resulting in loss of millions of dollars for organizations. This study aimed at collecting information that would identify the factors that would be critical to project success as perceived by the not for profit organizations in Kenya. This study adopted a cross-sectional study design where data was collected once within a period of one month and analysed. The study population was drawn from NGOs operating in Kenya and implementing livelihood related projects across the country with a size of 143 NGO’s representatives. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires with A Likert scale system of measurement on a continuum ranging from 1-5 where 1 corresponds to strongly disagree and 5 corresponds to strongly agree. The results revealed that 78.8% of project success could be accounted for by single rating for main project success indicators including competency factors, project management and external factors. However, an attempt to test competitiveness of the three domains of project success measurement outcomes revealed that factors related to project management was the most competitive (Communality=0.947) followed closely by external factors (Communality=0.917) and competency factors (Communality=0.791) as per the rating of participants. This implies that project management related indicators were most valued in the evaluation of project success. Within competency domain as a measure of project success, it emerged that competency of project team as a measure of project success would generate three factor group categories namely: leadership, planning and technical skills; communication, management and technical skills competencies; planning, external and internal management skills in the order of superiority. Management aspects of project success identified three factor groups namely: planning, monitoring and communications aspects; risk, monitoring and communication aspects of project management; communication, monitoring of project activities, managing risk associated with the project in that order. External factor aspects of project success also identified two main factor groups namely: political, technological, economic, environmental and social factors and political, economic and social factor domains in the context of project success. This study has brought on board a critical model for project managers to apply in ensuring project success