Influence of Project Evaluation Approaches on Performance of County Government Projects: a Case of Water Projects in Wajir County, Kenya

Abstract

The main aim of the study was to investigate the influence of project evaluation approaches on performance of county government projects, a case of water projects in Wajir County, Kenya. The specific objectives were to assess the influence of benchmarking on performance of county government projects, to establish the influence of continuous improvement on performance of county government projects, to assess the influence of process reengineering on performance of county government projects, and to find out the influence of management by objectives on performance of county government projects. The study used descriptive research survey design. This method of research was preferred because the researcher is able to collect data to answer questions concerning the status of the subject of study. The population for this study was 28 project heads and 2000 project beneficiaries making a total target population of 2028 respondents. This study adopted the stratified sampling technique. The sample size was 204 respondents. The study utilized a questionnaire and an interview guide to collect primary data. The data collected was sorted, keyed in and analyzed with the aid of SPSS. Further the study employed a multivariate regression model to study the influence of project evaluation approaches on performance of county government projects. The study found that benchmarking enables project managers to determine what the best practice is, to prioritize opportunities for improvement, to enhance performance relative to project projections, and to leapfrog the traditional cycle of change. The study also established that continuous improvement ensures that project managers are able to produce better projects at lower cost, thus achieving the project objectives. The study further established that management by objectives techniques used by the county were effective. The study concluded that on the influence of continuous improvement project on performance of county government projects, the study concluded that continuous improvement ensures that project managers are able to produce better projects at lower cost, thus achieving the project objectives. On the influence of management by objectives on performance of county government projects, the study concluded that using a process that you perform well and performing that process as a service for other projects affect project performance. The study recommended that project managers are supposed to be trained on continuous improvement related cases because the improvement plans significantly influenced project performance. It also recommended that Process reengineering has the highest influence on performance of county project thus objectives, channels and framework should be effectively put in place for the projects that have previously stalled.