Factors influencing performance of infrastructural projects in Kenya: a case of Ministry of Public Works

Abstract

Project performance is a critical issue for the good governarice of many nations globally. Project deliverables such as timely completion, management and public satisfaction are often used as yardsticks to determine success. In Kenya performance of Government initiated infrastructural projects is one of the important economic activities that contribute towards the economic growth of the nation. The Government has vested its interests of delivery of projects to its Ministry of Public Works.

Success of a project in the Ministry Public Works hinges on the ability of the project implementation management structure, financial management the human resource capacity, and embracement of information technology to effectively foresee the entire project to intended efficacy. As such this study has investigated the influence of such operational factors on the performance of infrastructural projects in the Ministry of Public Works in Kenya. Data was collected from a sample of 177 project operations personnel, from a population of 326 personnel in the Ministry of Public Works, which represents public entities charged with delivery of projects on behalf of the Government of Kenya.

The sample was selected using a stratified random sampling in order to be representative of the whole population of the Ministry's operations personnel. Correlation and Cross Tabulation analyses was conducted on overall project performance measures and clustered analysis was used to examine the factors influencing the operational factors. A questionnaire was used to collect data. The study used specific method in analyzing data by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).

The results indicate the presence of a positive relationship in the two variables of human resource capacity and Information Technology, and no relationship in the other two variables of project management Structure and project financial management. Organisations must therefore embrace new technology and in particular Information Technology in order to improve on projects performance and ensure adequacy in number of personnel who are equipped appropriately with skills.Further research should focus on the influence of contractors' performance, political stability, corruption and the business environment.